Photo: Dale Mark Stikeleather
A Flippin man who failed to return a pickup truck from a dealer in Gassville as promised has been charged with theft of property.
Sixty-three-year-old Dale Mark Stikeleather entered a not guilty plea to the charge during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court last week.
Stikeleather is reported to have asked the dealer if he could drive the truck to his bank where he intended to arrange a loan to purchase the vehicle.
Neither Stikeleather nor the vehicle had returned to the dealer’s lot by the agreed time.
The dealer located the truck and reported Stikeleather appeared intoxicated and that the vehicle was stuck in an area not intended for vehicle traffic.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the truck had been damaged, including scratches along both sides and a dent in the rear bumper. The bumper was also noted as not being level with the rear of the truck.
The dealer said none of the damage had been done when Stikeleather took possession of the truck for his alleged trip to the bank.
It was also noted that Stikeleather had a suspended driver’s license and no insurance.
As to the truck, according to the probable cause affidavit, Stikeleather “had no intention of getting a loan to buy the vehicle.”
He is free on $5,000 bond.
Stikeleather has had a number of driving while intoxicated charges scattered across several counties including Baxter and Marion.
In early March, Stikeleather showed up at the Marion County District Court Clerk’s office demanding to file an appeal of two of his DWI convictions.
He was reported to have been “loud, belligerent and combative.”
When he left, he was in the vehicle alone, so law enforcement was contacted since it was known he had no insurance, his driver’s license was suspended and he was likely intoxicated.
After being stopped by a Marion County sheriff’s deputy, Stikeleather took off but was captured a short time later.
After he was arrested, Stikeleather showed signs of impairment, including bloodshot eyes and difficulty maintaining balance.
The strong odor of intoxicants could was detected. Stikeleather claimed he consumed beer and vodka before going to bed the night before.
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