Suspect Enters Plea in Newton County Incident

A Newton County man has entered a not guilty plea to charges following an incident in which he reportedly fled from Sheriff Glenn Wheeler, as he drew his service revolver.

According to the probable cause affidavit, 63-year-old James Claiborne Arthur of Mt. Judea is charged with a felony count of fleeing, along with a misdemeanor of fleeing on foot and traffic offenses of reckless driving and no proof of insurance.

The charges stem from an incident in late November last year, when the Newton County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a suspicious person waiting outside a store in Piercetown from an employee arriving for work.

En route to the store, Sheriff Wheeler was advised Arthur was the suspect, and he had left. Wheeler said he recognized Arthur from a recent interaction with his deputies. He reports he was aware of other similar incidents involving Arthur allegedly exhibiting strange behavior and making employees uncomfortable. He also said he knew of a recent incident at the Jasper Post Office when Arthur reportedly pulled a pistol on another man.

Wheeler met Arthur’s vehicle on Arkansas Highway 123 and turned to initiate a traffic stop. He was successful in stopping the vehicle on NC 4500, a graveled road just off Highway 123.

When he approached the car, Arthur became immediately irate and began yelling profanities.

When he asked Arthur to step out, the suspect accelerated his car at a high rate of speed, with the sheriff standing beside the vehicle. Arthur’s vehicle fishtailed slightly, throwing gravel on Wheeler.

A second pursuit ensued for a short distance, with Arthur stopping his vehicle in the middle of the road.

Wheeler drew his weapon and ordered Arthur out of his car. Instead, Arthur drove away at an even higher rate of speed.

A lengthy pursuit followed through the Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area (WMA), with Arthur’s car on a donut spare swerving and almost wrecking after crossing the Big Creek bridge.

Knowing the WMA would be busy during modern deer season and with the situation quickly becoming dangerous to others, Wheeler attempted a PIT maneuver to disable Arthur’s car.

While the patrol unit made contact with a fender of Arthur’s car, the maneuver was unsuccessful, and the pursuit continued.

There were multiple close encounters with other vehicles in the WMA, with Arthur’s car often losing traction on the gravel road.

The high-speed pursuit continued into the Bass area, making an abrupt turn into a private driveway on NC 4540.

Wheeler again attempted a PIT maneuver, but was unsuccessful.

A short time later, Arthur stopped abruptly and fled from his vehicle, with the patrol unit striking his car.

Arthur fled around a bus that serves as his residence.

Wheeler waited for backup to arrive, as Arthur secured himself in the bus and refused to exit.

With a deputy arriving on scene, Wheeler attempted to get Arthur to surrender. However, Arthur responded he was afraid of the sheriff.

When Wheeler advised a deputy was on scene, Arthur exited the bus.

Wheeler reported his patrol unit received damage to both rear fenders and the rear bumper. In addition, it sustained damage to the windshield, the push bumper, the front bumper and the front grill.

Arthur’s bond was set at $15,000.

(From KTLO)