Jerry Dean Hopper, Jr.

     A rural Baxter County man, 41 year old JERRY DEAN HOPPER, JR., was taken into custody this afternoon on an outstanding felony bench warrant from the Paragould Police Department in Greene County, Arkansas following a vehicle pursuit that ended East of Mountain Home.

     Sheriff’s Lieutenant Terry Johnson attempted to initiate a vehicle stop on a 2004 dark blue Jeep Cherokee that JERRY DEAN HOPPER, JR. was observed to be driving at approximately 12:07 PM this afternoon on State Highway 5 South in Mountain Home.

     HOPPER refused to stop, and a pursuit began.  HOPPER turned East on the Sheid-Hopper Bypass, then East on U. S. Highway 62/412, with several units pursuing at speeds reaching approximately 90 miles per hour.  The pursuit ended after HOPPER arrived at his residence about 4 miles East of Mountain Home.  HOPPER bailed out on foot, was seen to be armed with a handgun, then ran inside his residence and barricaded himself.

     Officers  from several agencies surrounded the residence, and negotiations were started with HOPPER to secure his surrender.  Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Officer Doug Small, who was acquainted with HOPPER, eventually convinced HOPPER to surrender at approximately 1:42 PM.  He was then taken into custody and transported to the Baxter County Detention Center.  There were no injuries reported in the event.

     HOPPER will be picked up by the Paragould Police Department this afternoon and returned to Greene County on the outstanding bench warrant, which was for one count of Felony Terroristic Threatening and one count of Misdemeanor Terroristic Threatening.  HOPPER will later face charges in Baxter County for Fleeing from an Officer.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff