A Marion County man has been arrested following a disturbance at a local grocery store in Boone County. Fifty-two-year-old Michael John Guthrie of Flippin is facing multiple charges including fleeing and destruction of grave markers.
According to the probable cause affidavit on Jan. 31, the Boone County Sheriff’ Office responded to a local grocery store for a report of a disturbance. Dispatch told deputies a male, later identified as Guthrie, was harassing people in the parking lot.
When deputies arrived at the scene, Guthrie allegedly fled onto U.S. Highway 62 West going above the speed limit and almost hitting a car head on. Guthrie continued to merge onto U.S. Highway 65 South before he went into a driveway, where deputies observed him driving through a barbwire fence and a cow pasture. Guthrie continued into the Bellefonte Cemetery where he struck and destroyed numerous headstones and grave markers before the deputy lost sight of him.
While deputies were searching the area, they were advised a homeowner along Eastwood Dr. ad a truck hit the fence in their backyard and a male wearing a hoodie and dark pants was running around their yard. Upon arrival, deputies were able to identify it was the same vehicle they had been chasing, but Guthrie was not to be found.
At around 3:20 in the morning, dispatch received a call of an unwanted subject at the White Oak Convenience Store located in Bellefonte. The clerk had asked the male to leave several times and he refused to do so. When deputies arrived, they confirmed that the suspect fit the description of Guthrie from the earlier pursuit.
During the investigation, a witness told deputies when they pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store, they observed Guthrie standing around, watching her and her two children. She said when they got out of the car, Guthrie allegedly approached them from behind and started making comments towards them.
Guthrie was arrested and booked into the Boone County Detention Center. He is facing felony charges of fleeing in a vehicle, seven counts of destruction of a grave marker and criminal mischief, along with misdemeanor charges fleeing on foot, harassment, no liability insurance and criminal trespass. Guthrie is being held on a $25,000 bond.
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