Baxter County Manhunt Follows Police Chase across Two Other Counties
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: October 31, 2012
A manhunt continues in North Arkansas after an overnight police chase across three counties ended in a car crash.
The Baxter County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) says one man is in custody and another man is still believed to be in the area (pic below) after the crash early this morning near East U. S. Highway 62 B and Pioneer Trail Drive in Mountain Home.
The BCSO was notified just after 12:30 that an officer with the City of Highland Police Department (Sharp County) was pursuing a vehicle that was about to enter Baxter County from the East.
The pursuit started after the officer saw what he described as erratic driving.
The chase had already gone through portions of Sharp County, across Fulton County, and was preparing to enter Baxter County. Deputies with the BCSO and officers with the Mountain Home Police Department (MHPD) setup in the area to offer assistance. Soon after, they learned that the pursuit may have ended somewhere in Fulton County.
Minutes later, both the suspect vehicle (a 2012 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with Arkansas temporary tags) and the Highland Police Department cruiser, drove into Mountain Home and crashed.
No one was hurt and the suspects ran from their wrecked vehicle.
The BCSO, MHPD, and the Arkansas State Police began setting up a perimeter. The BCSO helicopter was launched, and tracking dogs from the Arkansas Department of Correction were brought to the scene.
About a dozen officers from various agencies were involved in the initial manhunt.
Just before four o'clock this morning, one suspect was taken into custody inside the nearby Walmart Supercenter. He is identified as Billy Dewayne Furlow, Jr., 36 (photo below), of Blytheville. Furlow is believed to have been a passenger in the vehicle.
The BCSO says deputies found about 10.3 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle as well as a small amount of marijuana, prescription pills, and some cash.
Furlow is jailed on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), Possession of a Controlled Substance (marijuana), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Xanax), and Fleeing from a Police Officer (on foot). The BCSO says Furlow had a parole violation from Austin, Texas and a probation violation from Dallas County, Texas. He is being held without bond.
The subject of the manhunt is Africa Wells, 39, of Jonesboro. He is 5'10" and weighs about 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing dark clothing.
Authorities believe he may be armed with a handgun. Based upon his past history, he is considered to be dangerous.
Authorities from multiple agencies are continuing to search the area for Wells. Residents are advised to keep doors and windows locked on their homes and vehicles and to call the BCSO or MHPD if they see Wells.
The Baxter County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) says one man is in custody and another man is still believed to be in the area (pic below) after the crash early this morning near East U. S. Highway 62 B and Pioneer Trail Drive in Mountain Home.
The BCSO was notified just after 12:30 that an officer with the City of Highland Police Department (Sharp County) was pursuing a vehicle that was about to enter Baxter County from the East.
The pursuit started after the officer saw what he described as erratic driving.
The chase had already gone through portions of Sharp County, across Fulton County, and was preparing to enter Baxter County. Deputies with the BCSO and officers with the Mountain Home Police Department (MHPD) setup in the area to offer assistance. Soon after, they learned that the pursuit may have ended somewhere in Fulton County.
Minutes later, both the suspect vehicle (a 2012 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with Arkansas temporary tags) and the Highland Police Department cruiser, drove into Mountain Home and crashed.
No one was hurt and the suspects ran from their wrecked vehicle.
The BCSO, MHPD, and the Arkansas State Police began setting up a perimeter. The BCSO helicopter was launched, and tracking dogs from the Arkansas Department of Correction were brought to the scene.
About a dozen officers from various agencies were involved in the initial manhunt.
Just before four o'clock this morning, one suspect was taken into custody inside the nearby Walmart Supercenter. He is identified as Billy Dewayne Furlow, Jr., 36 (photo below), of Blytheville. Furlow is believed to have been a passenger in the vehicle.
Furlow is jailed on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), Possession of a Controlled Substance (marijuana), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Xanax), and Fleeing from a Police Officer (on foot). The BCSO says Furlow had a parole violation from Austin, Texas and a probation violation from Dallas County, Texas. He is being held without bond.
The subject of the manhunt is Africa Wells, 39, of Jonesboro. He is 5'10" and weighs about 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing dark clothing.
Authorities believe he may be armed with a handgun. Based upon his past history, he is considered to be dangerous.
Authorities from multiple agencies are continuing to search the area for Wells. Residents are advised to keep doors and windows locked on their homes and vehicles and to call the BCSO or MHPD if they see Wells.
