The 8th North Task Force made their first arrest Thursday after being formed to serve Hempstead and Nevada counties, Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton said.
Task force officers went to the residence of Michael Shane Thompson at 506 Hempstead 12 in Hempstead County, Ark., in reference to him having a felony warrant with the Arkansas Board of Parole.
As officers were about to pull into the driveway from Hempstead 12, they saw Thompson working on some type of equipment. As they turned into the driveway, Thompson looked back and began quickly walking away, according to the report. Officers left their patrol car and told him to come back.
Thompson fled on foot into the woods north of the residence. Officers caught him about 150 yards from their patrol car. Thompson was advised to place his hands behind his back; he refused to cooperate and kept wanting to turn around, the report said. Officers asked him one more time, and he reportedly refused. Officers hit Thompson in the back with a stun gun. Thompson fell to the ground and was placed in hand restraints without further incident, Singleton said.
Other Hempstead County sheriff's deputies arrived and took Thompson to the Hempstead County Detention Facility, where he was turned over to the on-duty jail staff.
"Officers made contact with probation and parole officers to ascertain if they had a valid warrantless search waiver on file, because Thompson had just been arrested on their warrant and officers have received information that he was involved in the use, sale and distribution of illegal narcotics, as well as being involved in some large thefts. Probation and parole officers stated he was reporting to stay at the residence and that the residence, property and vehicles where he has access are subject to search at any time due to Thompson being on parole," Singleton said.
Officers found a female, Beth Burton, on the property. They asked Burton if she and Thompson lived in that residence, and she said yes.
More deputies arrived on the scene. Officers began searching the residence. During the search, they reportedly found a clear bag of a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine lying on the bed. There was another cellophane wrapper that contained two individual bags of suspected methamphetamine, the report said. Officers located a black digital scale commonly used for weighing narcotics on a nightstand beside the bed. There was also a small black box that contained several used hypodermic syringes commonly used for injecting narcotics into the body, the report said. Also, there was one exposed hypodermic syringe lying on the bed that contained an unknown liquid suspected to be methamphetamine, according to the report.
Burton was arrested and taken to the HCDF, where she was turned over to the on-duty jail staff for booking. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia. She will be held for her first court appearance.
Thompson was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia and fleeing on foot. He will be held for his first court appearance. He is also being held for the Arkansas Board of Parole on a felony warrant.