Robert D. Willett

     A local parolee, 31 year old ROBERT D. WILLETT, was arrested this morning on multiple charges after fleeing from Sheriff’s Investigators during a traffic stop.

     At approximately 9:30 AM, Sheriff’s Investigator Trey Edings conducted a traffic stop on ROBERT D. WILLETT on the U. S. Highway 62/412 Bypass near Walmart and Charles Blackburn Drive for a moving traffic violation.

     During the course of the stop, the Investigator sought permission and consent to search the vehicle.  WILLETT denied consent, and the Investigator then told WILLETT that his parole officer would be called to the scene to authorize a search.

     After being told that his parole officer would be called, ROBERT WILLETT suddenly drove away from the Investigator, who then got back into his car and gave pursuit.  The pursuit lasted approximately two minutes in duration.  The pursuit began going West bound on the U. S. Highway 62/412 Bypass, with WILLETT then turning right on State Highway 178 (also called Buzzard Roost Road)  heading toward the Mountain Home city limits.  WILLETT got behind slow moving traffic, and officers were able to get him stopped a second time near the golf course on Buzzard Roost Road.  During the brief pursuit, WILLETT was seen to throw items from the vehicle.  At least one item he threw out was recovered and found to be drug paraphernalia (a syringe). 

     WILLETT was taken into custody.  He was found to have a weapon, a hatchet, in the front seat of the vehicle with him.  ROBERT D. WILLETT was transported to the Detention Center and incarcerated on charges of:

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Felony
Simultaneous Possession of Drugs or Paraphernalia and a Weapon – Felony
Reckless Driving – Misdemeanor
Fleeing from an Officer – Misdemeanor
Disobeying a Stop Sign – Misdemeanor

     Bond on these charges is $20,000, with an appearance in Circuit Court set for March 12th.  It is also likely that the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections will shortly  place a no bond parole violation hold on WILLETT.

     Agencies assisting the Sheriff’s Office were the Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Game and Fish, and the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff