Baxter County Sheriff’s Deputies experienced slower than normal Independence Day holiday weekend this year.  There were fewer calls for service and fewer arrests made than last year.

     There were 37 complaint calls or calls for service made to the Sheriff’s Office from Thursday through Sunday.  There were 25 bookings made at the Baxter County Detention Center by all agencies during this time covering 47 separate criminal charges.  Some of these bookings were for:

4 Driving While Intoxicated
2 Drug or Drug Paraphernalia Possession
4 Domestic Battery or Assault
3 Boating While Intoxicated
20 Charges by Arrest Warrant
3 Minor in Possession of Alcohol

     Sheriff’s Deputies issued:

20 Citations for Traffic Violations or Criminal Misdemeanors
22  Warnings for Traffic Violations

     There were no serious incidents reported to the Sheriff’s Office over the weekend.

     Sheriff’s Deputies assisted with coordinating and monitoring the fireworks displays at Norfork Lake on July 3rd and at Bull Shoals Lake on July 4th.  The Sheriff’s Office provided water patrol deputies for several hours per day throughout the holiday weekend.

     All area campgrounds and resorts appeared to be occupied at or near capacity.  The Sheriff’s Office worked jointly with U. S. Army Corp of Engineers Park Rangers in patrolling public campgrounds and public use areas on Norfork Lake and Bull Shoals Lake.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff