Brian Radcliff (Photo courtesy of Baxter County Sheriff’s Office)
A response to a fire in a residential shop resulted in a rural Mountain Home man being arrested on two outstanding warrants. Fifty-one-year-old Brian Radcliff was also booked into the Baxter County Detention Center for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct on the early morning of July 4.
According to the incident report from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Baxter County 911 dispatch advised of the shop fire on Belle Cove Road, east of Mountain Home and north of Briarcliff, just after 10:30 on the evening of July 3. The residence belonged to Radcliff, and the deputy in the report states he was aware of the warrants.
Tracy Volunteer Fire Department personnel were on the scene and had the fire contained when deputies arrived. One of the deputies went to the back yard and made contact with Radcliff, who stated a firework was shot and went into the shop. The deputy walked to the shop where a friend of Radcliff was standing with a water hose. The friend said he wasn’t sure what occurred, but he believed Radcliff had set off a 150-shot artillery box of fireworks. He also stated they went inside the residence, but Radcliff looked outside and observed the shop on fire.
The deputy went to where the fireworks were reportedly shot and claimed it wasn’t possible for the shop to catch fire in the manner stated since it was made of tin. He then walked back to where Radcliff had been, but he was no longer there. After knocking on all of the doors, authorities realized Radcliff allegedly locked himself in the residence.
The deputies made entry through the basement and discovered Radcliff was locked in the bedroom on the top floor, and he reportedly had a shotgun in the room. After unsuccessfully attempting to get Radcliff to come out, a deputy reportedly located a 45-pound bench bar and used it to get the door open, but then discovered a dresser was blocking the door. The deputies were able to get into the room, and they reportedly observed Radcliff in the adjoining bathroom with a shotgun to his chin. The friend came in, talked to Radcliff and removed the gun from Radcliff’s hand. A deputy took Radcliff into custody and retrieved the gun for evidence.
Radcliff’s most recent outstanding warrant was for violations of the Arkansas hot check law. He is accused of writing hot checks last year on the account of the restaurant he previously owned. One check was to a food service for nearly $7,400, and the other was for $89 to an individual.
The other outstanding warrant on Radcliff is for failure to appear in court on felony counts of aggravated assault and first-degree criminal mischief and a misdemeanor count of harassment. The complainant from the incident in April stated he purchased a trailer from Radcliff, but he was withholding the money because he had not received the title. The victim alleges Radcliff came to his residence that morning, parked in front of the driveway and shouted from the road. The complainant stated he and a female were attempting to leave the residence, but they were blocked by Radcliff’s truck. As they attempted to go around, Radcliff’s truck reportedly inched closer and rammed the complainant’s truck, pushing it and a trailer off the road.
Radcliff was transferred to the Marion County Law Enforcement Center shortly after being booked.
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