Tyler Joe Wheeller

Patricia Leann Wheeler

       Two Baxter County people were arrested early this morning, July 6th, on drug charges after the Sheriff’s Office received a complaint about an all terrain vehicle (ATV) being ridden in the Mallard Point area.

    At approximately 12:36 AM, Corporal Craig Gates was dispatched to the area of Mallard Run Drive in response to a complaint that an ATV had gone up and down the roadway with two people on it and no lights.  After arriving in the area, Corporal Gates heard and then saw an ATV travelling down Baxter CR 987.  A woman was operating the ATV, and there was a male passenger.  The woman had a lamp strapped to her head, and the passenger was holding a flashlight.  Corporal Gates stopped the ATV and detained the people on it.  They were identified as 27 year old TYLER JOE WHEELER of rural Mountain Home and 27 year old PATRICIA LEANN WHEELER of rural Mountain Home.  Both of them are on active supervised probation with Arkansas Community Corrections, and both had search waivers on file. 

     When Corporal Gates directed TYLER WHEELER to step off the ATV, he tried to drop a small plastic baggy.  Corporal Gates picked up the baggy and PATRICIA WHEELER then tried to grab the bag out of his hand.  This baggy contained approximately 1.9 grams of methamphetamine. TYLER WHEELER and PATRICIA WHEELER were both then taken into custody.  A further search of the area uncovered a small plastic bottle that had been dropped on the ground between the ATV and the patrol car.  Inside were ten clonazepam pills and approximately another .4 grams of methamphetamine.  All of these items were seized and taken into evidence.

     TYLER WHEELER and PATRICIA WHEELER were both transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and each booked on charges of:

Possession of Controlled Substances – Felony
Probation Violation – Felony

     They each have a bond of $5,000 on the drug charges but are being held without bond on the probation violations.  They are set to appear in Circuit Court to answer on July 12th.

     The ATV they were on was found to have had the serial number removed.   It has also been seized pending further investigation into that matter.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff