Man wanted in Baxter County found in Blytheville - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

Man wanted in Baxter County found in Blytheville

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Africa Wells (Source: Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office) Africa Wells (Source: Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office)
Wrecked Highland police cruiser (Source: Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office) Wrecked Highland police cruiser (Source: Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office)
Billy Dewayne Furlow, Jr. (Source: Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office) Billy Dewayne Furlow, Jr. (Source: Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office)
Suspects' vehicle (Source: Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office) Suspects' vehicle (Source: Baxter Co. Sheriff's Office)

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BAXTER COUNTY, AR (KAIT/AP) - Baxter County authorities say a man wanted for allegedly leading police on a chase that ended in a crash involving the suspect's car and a police car has been found. 

Sheriff John Montgomery says 39-year-old Africa Wells of Jonesboro was found and arrested Thursday in Blytheville - nearly 180 miles east of where the crash occurred in Mountain Home on Wednesday. 

The chase started just before 12:30 Wednesday morning when a Highland police officer noticed a 2012 Chevy Monte Carlo driving erratically.  When the officer attempted to pull over the car, the driver sped off.

The chase continued through parts of Sharp County, across Fulton County and was about to enter Baxter County when the sheriff's office there was notified. 

Several minutes later, at 12:42 a.m., Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery said the chase ended when the suspect's car and the Highland police officer's cars collided near the intersection of Highway 62 B and Pioneer Trail Drive in Mountain Home. 

The crash flipped the Highland police cruiser onto its roof.  The officer was not seriously injured.

Following the crash, the suspects ran from the wrecked vehicle. 

Baxter County deputies joined Mountain Home police and Arkansas State Police in searching for the suspects.  The sheriff's office helicopter was launched and tracking dogs from the Arkansas Department of Correction-North Central Unit in Calico Rock were dispatched to the scene. 

At 3:47 a.m. officers found one of the suspects, 36-year-old Billy Dewayne Furlow, Jr. of Blytheville, inside a nearby Walmart Supercenter.  Furlow was arrested and taken to the sheriff's office. 

Sheriff Montgomery said when investigators searched the suspects' car they found 10.3 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a small amount of marijuana, some prescription pills and cash. 

Furlow, who is wanted on two parole violations from Texas, is being held in the Baxter County Detention Center on charges of: 

  • Possession of Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Class A Felony
  • Possession of Controlled Substance (marijuana) – Class A Misdemeanor
  • Possession of Controlled Substance (Xanax) – Class A Misdemeanor
  • Fleeing from Police Officer (on foot) – Class A Misdemeanor

Copyright 2012 KAIT. All rights reserved.The Associated Press contributed to this report.