Danny A. Sturgis	Sturgis being taken into custody	Sturgis being searched prior to transport
Sturgis' vehicle	Sturgis after officers have made contact

     One man is in custody and another man remains at large following a vehicle pursuit and manhunt this afternoon.  The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office became involved after being notified at approximately 1:18 PM today by the Izard County Sheriff’s Office that they had deputies in pursuit of a vehicle on State Highway 5 heading toward Baxter County. 

     At approximately 1:26 PM, Baxter County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Cox joined the pursuit in Baxter County on Sheid Road near the City of Norfork.  One suspect had already bailed from the vehicle near the Baxter County-Izard County line on State Highway 5 in the area of Moccasin Creek. 

     The driver of the suspect vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Impala, eluded deputies on Sheid Road for a short time.  About five minutes later, Baxter County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Rick Lucy found the suspect vehicle in a field to the East of Sheid Road up against a wood line.  A dog tracking team from the Arkansas Department of Corrections – North Central Unit in Calico Rock arrived at the abandoned vehicle not long after.  They began tracking away from the vehicle.  The suspect was discovered hiding in the woods approximately 25 yards from where he had abandoned the vehicle.  This suspect was taken into custody.  He was identified as 60 year old DANNY A. STURGIS, believed to reside in Izard County.  Suspected methamphetamine was found on the ground adjacent to where STURGIS, who is a Parolee, was taken into custody.

     DANNY A. STURGIS was taken to the Baxter County Detention Center and booked on charges of:

Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) – Felony
Fleeing from Officers by Vehicle – Felony
Parole Violation – Felony
Hold for Izard County – Other Charges

     Bond for DANNY STURGIS is $25,000 on the new charges, while he is being held without bond for the Parole Violation.

     Authorities continued searching for the other suspect who had bailed form the vehicle near the county line.  Authorities have information as to this suspect’s identity, but the identification has not been confirmed at this time.  He is described as a white male, approximately 30-35 years old, wearing shorts and carrying a black t-shirt in his hand.  He was last seen in a wooded area along Moccasin Creek.  This suspect has not been apprehended and remains at large after the search for him was discontinued at approximately 4:00 PM once the canine tracking team could no longer detect a track.  The suspect is believed to have warrants, but there is no indication that he presents any danger to the general public. 

     Agencies involved in the pursuit and manhunt were the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Izard County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Officers, and the Canine Tracking Team from the North Central Unit – Arkansas Department of Corrections.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff