A Baxter County man is facing additional felony charges after he allegedly stole a firearm and violated a no-contact order.According to the probable cause affidavit, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen pistol. According to the homeowner, a male, identified as 59-year-old Todd Goff, had shown up at his home claiming he was homeless and needed help. The homeowner invited Goff into his home and allowed him to shower. He advised authorities he was working in his garage while Goff was in the bathroom.
The homeowner stated Goff made some concerning statements which led him to believe Goff was in a poor state of mind. While Goff was in the shower, the homeowner remembered Goff knew where he kept his pistol, so he moved it from its usual location and placed it into the bed as he feared Goff would do something with it.
While still working in the garage, the homeowner saw Goff leaving the residence and heard him mumble something. He called out after Goff to ask if he had his gun. Goff replied, “are you accusing me of stealing?” At the time, the homeowner did not approach Goff further because he knew Goff had a loaded handgun.
The homeowner told authorities he overheard Goff state he was going to meet with his bail bondsman and called the bondsman to make him aware and, in turn, told the homeowner to call investigators. Goff violated a no-contact order the day before when he was ordered to leave the hospital where his estranged wife was a patient. She is the respondent of a no-contact order spawning from an incident on June 7 where Goff was arrested for aggravated assault on his wife. The bondsman was planning to revoke Goff’s bond on the aggravated assault, and Goff was aware of this.
Fearing Goff was en route back to the hospital, law enforcement started a search after learning he was in a poor mental state and may have a stolen firearm. Multiple leads revealed Goff had been dropped off at a residence along Old Arkana Road.
When deputies made contact with Goff, a standoff began for several minutes where he was ordered to lie down on the ground numerous times. Goff started making statements, such as “you’re going to have to do it,” and others similar in nature with his hand on the handgun, but at no point did he point the gun at law enforcement.
Deputies were able to physically take Goff to the ground and forcefully remove the gun from his hand. Deputies deployed a Taser in an attempt to subdue Goff. One deputy was inadvertently tased during the incident but sustained no injuries.
Deputies also stated while en route to the jail, Goff said he only had the gun so officers would have to shoot him. Goff was placed on suicide watch after booking.
Goff is facing additional felony charges of theft of property, possession of firearms by certain persons, and misdemeanor charges of refusal to submit to arrest and disorderly conduct. He is currently being held in the Baxter County Detention Center.
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