One person has been arrested and a warrant has been issued for a second person after nearly 1.5 pounds of cocaine was found in an apartment in Mountain Home this week thanks to the work of one of the newest members of the Mountain Home Police force, K9 Ace.
Arrested was 22-year-old Cameron Mitch Baker of Calico Rock, his second arrest this week for having large amounts of drugs. The warrant has been issued for 20-year-old Kadence Martin of Mountain Home.
When MHPD officers arrived Monday to execute a search warrant, Baker was found asleep in a bedroom and was taken into custody without incident. In the bedroom, officers found a marijuana cigarette and a small safe.
K9 handler Officer Keith Petty and K9 Ace were requested to assist with the safe. Ace alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the safe. Martin told officers the safe belonged to her. The safe was seized and removed from the residence until a search warrant to open the safe could be obtained. Since there were no charges at that time, Martin was allowed to stay in her residence.
Once the safe was opened, officers discovered approximately 1.5 pounds of suspected cocaine, two Glock firearms and $11,600 in cash. The estimated street value of the cocaine exceeds $60,000.
Mountain Home Police Chief Eddie Griffin tells KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News they dont see much cocaine anymore because of the price. He says a gram of cocaine has a street value of about $100 while methamphetamine sells for about $15-$20 per gram.
Griffin says he is extremely proud of the work of K9 Ace and Officer Petty. He says they have had Ace for about three months and this is his first big bust.
Both Baker and Martin are charged with trafficking a controlled substance, cocaine; and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, which are both class Y felonies, the most serious crime in Arkansas not punishable by the death penalty. They each also face a misdemeanor count of third degree endangering the welfare of a minor as a two-year-old child was in the apartment. Bond for both is set at $50,000. Baker has been transferred to the Izard County Jail.
Agencies assisting the Mountain Home Police Department in the investigation include the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections and the Arkansas State Police.
BAKERS ARREST THIS WEEK
Baker was arrested earlier this week for his part in 10.8 pounds of methamphetamine being found hidden in a car in a storage shed east of Mountain Home. He was one of three people arrested in connection with that case.
In that case, he is charged with trafficking a controlled substance, methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was free after posting $150,000 bond at the time of his latest arrest.
BAKERS PREVIOUS ARRESTS
Baker has two other felony arrests in Arkansas, one in Washington County and one in Izard County.
He was arrested in Washington County in 2021 on a charge of possession with purpose to deliver a controlled substance. Through a negotiated guilty plea deal, he was given 12 months of supervised probation.
He was arrested in 2024 in Izard County on charges of possession of controlled substance, reckless driving and third degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Through a negotiated guilty plea, he was given two years of probation.
After his arrests this week, he has violated his probation and documents have been filed to revoke the remainder of his probation.
Baker is being held in the Izard County Jail on the probation violation with a hold for the Mountain Home Police Department charges.
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