A Mountain Home man being held on multiple felony charges, including arson and animal cruelty, was placed on suicide watch at the Baxter County Detention Center after authorities say he exhibited suicidal and homicidal behavior and attempted to gain control of a taser during an incident late April 16 into the early morning hours of April 17.
According to a report from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, detention staff were alerted shortly after 6 that evening that 36-year-old Bradley Marcus Hanes was having suicidal and homicidal thoughts and would need to be placed in a safety smock inside a detox cell.
When jailers attempted to remove Hanes from restraints, he reportedly ran to a wall and began repeatedly striking his head. Staff intervened and secured him in a restraint chair without further incident.
While being monitored, Hanes made several statements indicating he was continuing to have what were described as “very bad thoughts,” and staff elected to keep him restrained for safety.
At one point, Hanes told detention staff he had been having thoughts about attempting to take a taser from officers.
After several hours of monitoring, Hanes told staff he was no longer having those thoughts and agreed to be moved to a detox cell. However, as he was being escorted, he reportedly ran toward the booking desk and attempted to jump the counter in what he later said was an effort to get a taser.
Staff again intervened and placed Hanes back into the restraint chair without further incident.
Hanes was later moved to a detox cell, where he was placed in a safety smock and put on continuous observation due to ongoing concerns about suicidal and homicidal ideations.
ORIGINAL ARREST
Hanes was originally arrested in 2023 in connection with a house fire authorities say was intentionally set at a residence along South Kingswood Drive in Mountain Home.
According to the probable cause affidavit, an off-duty firefighter was first on scene and found Hanes standing in the garage of the burning home.
The renter of the residence told investigators he had been renting a room to Hanes but had asked him to move out due to issues paying rent. The two had argued prior to the incident, and the renter had left town the day before the fire, telling Hanes he was to be out by the time he returned.
Investigators determined the fire had multiple points of origin, including in the garage, and that a lamp in a bedroom had been plugged into an outlet through toilet paper.
Authorities also reported vulgarities had been written inside the home, including in a closet using cat feces.
Hanes later told investigators he had tortured and killed one of the renter’s cats. A second cat was later found alive inside a dryer.
The renter estimated the loss of personal property at between $35,000 and $40,000.
Hanes is facing felony charges of arson, animal cruelty and criminal mischief in the first degree in connection with the fire. His bond on those charges was set at $75,000.
In the most recent incident, Hanes is additionally charged with impairing the operation of a vital public facility.
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