Joshua Travis Cooper	Alexandria Marie Rodriguez	9mm Handgun
		2003 Mitsubishi

Joint Press Release

Cotter Police Department
Baxter County Sheriff’s Office

       On Wednesday, January 11, 2016, at approximately 9:34 PM, 911 received a call of an armed robbery that had just occurred at the Bayman Beverage Store on Hwy 62 Business in Cotter, Arkansas. The store clerk told 911 that a male subject had walked into the store brandishing a handgun, demanded money and cigarettes and then fled the store on foot heading south from the store.

     Cotter Police Officer Justin Martin arrived 2 minutes later, at 9:36 pm and secured the scene and area.  Officers from Gassville Police Department and the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office arrive shortly thereafter and began securing the area.  It was determined that approximately $600 in cash and several packs of cigarettes were taken. Video surveillance footage was obtained from the store and later reviewed.

     Investigators and off duty officers from Baxter County and were called in to assist.  Marion County deputies also responded to the area. The Tracking Dog Team from Calico Rock Prison was also brought to the scene to assist.  Perimeters were set up in the area on both side of Hwy 62 West and Business Hwy 62 and a search of area began. While indications at the scene were that the suspect had fled the area prior to secondary officers arriving, searches were continued of the area.  After a final search of the Cotter School, grounds and area surrounding it, the search was called off at approximately 2:15 AM.

     Today, Thursday Investigators from Cotter, Gassville, Marion and Baxter Counties followed up on numerous tips and leads. Evidence later found near the scene, along with video surveillance footage helped investigators develop a possible suspect vehicle.   At approximately 2:05 pm, the vehicle, a gray 2003 Mitsubishi was spotted in the Gamaliel area on Hwy 101 North and a traffic stop was initiated by Baxter County Investigators on the vehicle after the vehicle turned onto County Road 806.  Two persons from the vehicle were taken into custody and the vehicle was seized for processing.

     At approximately 4:30 PM, a search warrant was obtained and executed on the vehicle in question and numerous items were recovered that investigators believe are related to the Robbery.  A quantity of Methamphetamine, cigarettes matching the brand and tax stamps of the store’s,  Clothing believed to be matching what the suspect was wearing during the robbery,  cash and a chrome plated, 9 mm Handgun were recovered.  The handgun was recovered from the female suspect’s purse.

Alexandria Marie Rodriguez, age 25 of Gassville was charged with:

Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver – Class Y Felony Simultaneous Possess of Drugs and Firearms – Class Y Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Class D Felony

Rodriguez was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center and is being held on $60,000 Bond pending her appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court on January 19, at 1 pm.

Joshua Travis Cooper, age 34 of Gassville was charged with:

Aggravated Robbery – Class Y Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver – Class Y Felony Simultaneous Possession of Controlled Substance and Firearms – Class Y Felony Felon in Possession of a Firearm – Class B Felony Probation Violation Warrant from Larimer County, Colorado

Cooper was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center and is being held on $250,000 Bond pending his appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court on January 19, at 1 pm.

The investigation is continuing and more charges related to other crimes are probable.

Joint release:

Cotter Police Chief Clint Tilton
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery