BAXTER COUNTY, Ark. — Multiple law enforcement agencies in Arkansas came together earlier this week for a three-day operation in Baxter County that led to dozens of arrests.
The operation, dubbed by officials as "Operation Accountability", focused on locating parole and probation absconders, serving outstanding arrest warrants, and making arrests for criminal offenses.
Residential compliance checks were performed on parolees, probationers, and registered sex offenders in the area. During those checks, multiple digital devices were confiscated for forensic examination. According to reports, ane sex offender was arrested for violating sex offender registration requirements.
Additionally, highway patrol troopers with the Arkansas State Police conducted saturation patrols that resulted in multiple vehicle stops. Troopers made a total of 559 vehicle contacts during the three-day operation and issued 184 citations for traffic and misdemeanor offenses, plus 203 warnings for traffic offenses.
Two wanted individuals fled from officers in separate incidents, which caused brief manhunts, however, both were later apprehended.
In total, 74 arrests were made during the operation, and 71 people were booked into the Baxter County Detention Center on the following charges:
- Parole and Probation Absconders: 13
- Warrants of Arrest Served: 32
- Drug charges and other criminal arrests: 29
The remaining 3 people who were not booked in at the detention center were transferred directly to other jurisdictions that had outstanding warrants for those persons.
Of those arrested, 36 were on active parole or probation with the Arkansas Division of Community Corrections at the time.
Over the course of the investigations and arrests, officers reportedly seized the following items:
- Firearms: 4
- Vehicles: 3
- Boat: 1
- Cell phones: 4
- Computers: 2
- Hard Drive: 1
- Cash: $3,100
- Methamphetamine: 69.04 grams
- Marijuana: 3+ pounds
- Kraton: 980 grams
- Mushrooms: 20 grams
- Various pills (controlled substances): 93
- Drug paraphernalia: Multiple items and devices
In total, 36 felony charges and 11 misdemeanor charges were filed in connection with these arrests.
"Operation Accountability" was organized by the Baxter County Sheriff's Office to hold convicted offenders accountable for complying with the terms of their parole and probation requirements.
Baxter County officials were assisted by the following agencies: Mountain Home Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Division of Community Corrections - Parole and Probation Services, Arkansas Division of Community Corrections - Sex Offender Services, Cotter Police Department, Arkansas Division of Corrections - North Central Unit - K9 Tracking Team, Baxter County District Court - Probation Services, United States Bureau of ATF - Local Agent