Ben Gary Dacus

Kiana Shawntae Hays

     Two rural Mountain Home citizens were arrested this afternoon by the Sheriff’s Office on outstanding felony warrants for a drug offense and other charges.  BEN GARY DACUS, 29 years of age, and KIANA SHAWNTAE HAYS, 24 years of age, were booked into the Baxter County Detention Center between 3pm and 4pm this afternoon.

     Sheriff’s Investigators obtained warrants for the arrest of DACUS and HAYS after Deputy Doug Meurer took a complaint report from a man on August 30^th indicating that a male and female, later identified as DACUS and HAYS, were riding an all terrain vehicle (ATV) in front of his residence on Baxter CR 625.  The caller informed Deputy Meurer that he observed a makeup case and a plastic ziplock bag fall from the ATV.  He went to investigate and saw the ziplock bag held several more, smaller bags containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be a controlled substance.

     While the caller was waiting on Deputy Meurer to arrive at the location, the man who had ridden by on the ATV (BEN DACUS) returned to the location.  A verbal altercation ensued between the caller and DACUS, with DACUS demanding the return of the articles and allegedly threatening the caller, following him onto his property, where DACUS then shoved the caller.  DACUS left before Deputy Meurer arrived. 

     Upon Deputy Meurer’s arrival, the suspected controlled substance was taken into evidence.  It was later determined to be approximately 2.4 grams of methamphetamine.  During the investigation, the identity of the man and woman on the ATV was determined to have been DACUS and HAYS.  Sheriff’s Investigator Trey Edings then obtained felony bench warrants for the arrest of DACUS and HAYS.

     BEN GARY DACUS was charged by warrant with:

Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver – Felony
Assault in the Third Degree – Misdemeanor
Criminal Trespass – Misdemeanor
Operating an ATV on Public Roadway – Misdemeanor

     DACUS was released from custody after posting $15,000 bond.  He will appear in Circuit Court on September 12^th.

     KIANA SHAWNTAE HAYS was charged by warrant with:

Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver – Felony

     She remains in the Detention Center in lieu of $15,000 bond, with a Circuit Court appearance set for September 12^th.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff