Photo: Raymond James Skinner
A man who led police on a slow-speed chase and ended up bolting from his truck and fleeing on foot before falling into Lake Norfork appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court last Thursday.
Forty-one-year-old Raymond James Skinner of Clarkridge entered a guilty plea to charges against him and was sentenced to six years probation.
Skinner was arrested in early-April after being stopped by a Mountain Home police officer for having a non-working headlight.
When the officer approached the pickup Skinner was driving, the Clarkridge man refused to roll down his window, telling the officer there was no need because he could “hear just fine.”
The officer saw a firearm in the vehicle and asked Skinner to exit the truck. He refused.
At one point, the officer attempted to open the driver’s side door, but Skinner pulled it shut and eventually locked it.
Skinner began to drive away from the officer who gave chase at what was described as “a slow speed” down Baxter County Road 28.
The officer reported Skinner never exceeded the speed limit.
The chase continued on State Highway 201 North. Another officer who had joined the unusual snail’s pace pursuit reported hearing what he thought were gunshots coming from Skinner’s vehicle near the Pigeon Creek Bridge.
The officers reported Skinner’s vehicle came to a stop on the bridge. Skinner jumped out of the truck and began running toward the lake.
One officer was chasing Skinner, when the fugitive fell down a small incline and into the lake.
As soon as he came out of the water, he was cuffed.
Officers found a white crystal-like substance in a small plastic bag and also located a number of firearms and five knives.
One of the firearms was reported to be a .45 caliber pistol that appeared to be altered so it could fire 410 shotgun shells.
Skinner was charged with possession of methamphetamine, fleeing in a vehicle and fleeing on foot and misdemeanor traffic violations.
He was sentenced under Act 346, the first offenders law. If he stays out of trouble during his probation, he can apply to the courts to have his record sealed.
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