A large number of criminal cases have been opened on J.D. Comstock in Baxter, Fulton and Izard Counties through the years.
He appeared during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court last Monday on a video hookup from the Ouachita River Unit of the state prison system.
The court appearance dealt with his latest charges in Baxter county including residential burglary, theft of property, breaking or entering, escaping from law enforcement and fleeing.
NOT GUILTY PLEA
On his latest spree, the 37-year-old Comstock is accused of breaking into a residence and detached workshop and taking various items, stealing vehicles, escaping from law enforcement, and fleeing.
He entered a not guilty plea to those charges Monday.
Comstock appears not to have a long-term, fixed address.
HENDERSON AREA HOME ROBBED
Comstock’s latest alleged criminal activity in Baxter County dates back to June 18 when the owners of a residence along County Road 137 in the Henderson area returned home after going swimming in Lake Norfork.
They reported finding their residence had been broken into, drawers pulled open and items moved from their normal locations.
The items found to be missing from the home and a detached shop building on the property included fishing tackle, clothing, a weed eater, a cellphone, chain saws and an ATV winch.
STOLEN EARPHONES TRACKED
A pair of Air Pod Max earphones was also found to be missing. Investigators were informed the earphones had the capability to be tracked with locations shown on a cellphone.
The tracker showed that since the earphones were taken from the Henderson residence, they had been at a business in Mountain Home, a liquor store on State Highway 5 South and an apartment complex along Glenbriar Drive in Mountain Home.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the final location where the earphones “pinged” was at a residence along State Highway 5 South.
A search warrant was obtained for the home and served on June 20.
After making contact with two young females at the residence, the officers found Comstock in the garage rolled up in a blanket.
Law officers noticed an ATV winch in the back seat of a black Saturn automobile parked in the driveway. The winch fit the description of one taken in the burglary at Henderson.
Comstock was asked about the vehicle and he claimed that a friend had loaned it to him.
One of the occupants of the residence on Highway 5 South told investigators that it was Comstock who had given the allegedly stolen earphones to her daughter.
Officers were also shown a number of items in the bed of a pickup truck that allegedly belonged to Comstock.
The items were determined to have come from the Henderson residence.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN/
During questioning, Comstock is reported to have complained that the hand restraints he was wearing were too tight.
As a sheriff’s deputy attempted to reposition the restraints, Comstock took the opportunity to flee.
He is reported to have run down a hill toward State Highway 5 South with the deputy in pursuit.
Comstock fell down in the gravel driveway momentarily, regained his footing, ran across the highway and into woods bordering the roadway.
The deputy also fell in approximately the same spot and sustained injuries to his arms, shoulders and knees to an extent he had to be treated at Baxter Health.
CANINE TRACKING TEAM RESPONDS
A number of law enforcement personnel were dispatched to the scene to hunt for Comstock.
A canine tracking team from the North Central Unit of the state prison system at Calico Rock was brought in to aid in the manhunt.
The team traced Comstock to a home on Old Tracy Ferry Road. Immediately before the team arrived at that location, the owner of the residence reported the theft of a 2007 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck.
FROM ARKANSAS TO KANSAS
Comstock’s escape came to an end when he crashed a stolen motorcycle in Chautauqua County, Kansas following a high-speed pursuit covering several counties. It is unknown from the public record currently available how many vehicles Comstock might have taken during his flight to Kansas.
The extensive manhunt that had been mounted locally for Comstock was halted when it was learned he had been apprehended after trying and failing to outrun law enforcement officers in Kansas.
MANY CHARGES AND LOCATIONS
Through the years, Comstock has been charged with multiple counts of escape, residential burglary, breaking or entering, theft of property, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia.
The various illegal activities in which Comstock is alleged to have been involved in have taken place in a number of locations in three counties.
Comstock has an open theft case in Fulton County dating from early June
POST OFFICE ONCE TARGET
In addition to homes, Comstock was also charged with stealing items including a mail cart from the Brockwell Post Office in early December 2017.
According to probable cause affidavits, Comstock has at times taken off from the scene of one crime and then stolen a vehicle to facilitate his escape.
OPEN FULTON COUNTY CASE
In the active Fulton County criminal case Comstock is alleged to have stolen a Jeep Liberty Sport from a hay barn located along Edgewater Trail.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Comstock was fleeing from an unspecified incident in Horseshoe Bend at the time of the vehicle was taken.
There were pictures of a male walking up to the barn, going in and the Jeep backing out.
Fulton County investigators sent images of the person taking the vehicle from the barn in Fulton County to a Horseshoe Bend police officer who identified the person as Comstock.
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