A not guilty plea was entered for a Salesville man facing charges stemming from what was described as a road rage incident that ended in gunfire during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Monday.
Twenty-eight-year-old Dixon Wayne Hutchins is charged with aggravated assault and first-degree criminal mischief.
Hutchins was arrested June 14 when Baxter County sheriff’s deputies responded to an initial report of a “road rage” incident along Water Tower Road in Salesville.
The responding units were then told that the two vehicles were separated but that shots had been fired by one of the drivers.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim said as he was headed home, a white Toyota Camry, driven by Hutchins, had “issues with him” beginning on State Highway 5 South.
He said when he turned onto Water Tower Road, the Camry followed. The victim said he pulled over at one point to let Hutchins’ vehicle pass him.
He told deputies after the Camry had “aggressively” passed him, it stopped in such a way it blocked the road and that Hutchins got out of the vehicle.
The victim said the way Hutchins kept a hand at his right side made it appear he might have a firearm.
Hutchins is alleged to have challenged the victim to get out of his vehicle. The victim refused, ducked down behind the steering wheel, put his car in reverse and tried to leave the scene.
According to court documents, Hutchins started shooting at that point. The victim estimated Hutchins fired about five shots in his direction.
Investigators said the victim’s vehicle had multiple bullet holes in the hood; the windshield and a headlight were also hit.
There were six bullet casings and two live rounds found on the roadway where Hutchins had been standing.
While the scene was being processed, a homeowner living along Water Tower Road told deputies a bullet had hit his residence. Investigators found a bullet hole in the front of the house.
The bullet was reported to have traveled through multiple walls, ending up embedded in a wall just above a chair.
When law enforcement contacted Hutchins, he claimed self-defense and asked for an attorney. A passenger in Hutchins’ vehicle was reported to have witnessed the entire event but refused to provide any information to law enforcement.
Investigators took Hutchins’ 45-caliber pistol into evidence.
Hutchins, who is free on $250,000 bond, is being represented by Mountain Home attorney Ben Burnett.
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