A Norfork man is facing multiple charges after leading law enforcement on a high speed pursuit through Baxter County Saturday night. Forty-two-year-old Randall Scott Beard was arrested below the Norfork Dam on a total of nine charges.
According to the incident report from the Mountain Home Police Department, an officer tried to make a traffic stop on a motorcycle driven by Beard when he failed to signal for a turn and had an expired tag.
The officer initiated his emergency lights to conduct the traffic stop but Beard continued on. When the officer turned on his siren, Beard still didn’t stop, but continued on at about 20 miles-per-hour, at one point throwing a glass object onto the roadway.
He then began to accelerate as he reached Cardinal Street, ran the red light and turned left to head south on 9th Street. The report indicates Beard’s speed was 70 MPH on 9th Street with two officers in pursuit.
As the chase reached the bypass over U.S. Highway 62/412, a Baxter County deputy joined in the pursuit which reached speeds of 85 MPH on State Highway 5 as Beard was driving in both lanes of the highway.
A deputy with the sheriff’s office set up a road block in Salesville to prevent Beard from going towards Norfork, forcing him to take State Highway 177 towards the Norfork Dam.
As the pursuit approached the dam, Beard hit his brakes, drove his motorcycle off the road and towards the campground below the dam. Beard then jumped off his bike and fled on foot. One of the Mountain Home officers gave chase and was able to strike Beard with his taser. Beard was not affected, but the officer was able to strike him a second time, causing Beard to put his hands in the air, get on the ground and give up.
During a search of the motorcycle, officers found an eyeglass case with a baggie containing marijuana. Officers then returned to the spot Beard had thrown the glass object at the beginning of the pursuit and found a broken glass pipe with a white burnt residue.
Beard is facing felony charges of fleeing and possession of drug paraphernalia along with misdemeanor charges of fleeing on foot, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance, having no motorcycle endorsement, having expired tags, tampering with evidence and littering. Beard is also facing a penalty enhancement for being a habitual offender. He is also being held on a parole violation. His bond is set at $10,000.
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