UPDATE:  01/17/2018:

DAVID FISS and BRANDY HUGHES, who were arrested last week on numerous charges related to break-ins and thefts in the area, are now facing more charges connected with other incidents they have been linked to.  These include:

December 18, 2017: A burglary at 62 CR 48.  The residence had been broken into and it appeared someone had been squatting there.  While Investigators were there, they observed DAVID FISS from a distance in a white sport utility vehicle.  FISS was ordered to stop, but he quickly fled in the vehicle and was not found.

December 19, 2017: A white sport utility vehicle, a Honda CRV, was reported to have been stolen from the CR 48 area.

December 23, 2017: A 5000 watt generator was reported stolen from 11168 Hwy 5 South.  The garage door had been pried open and the generator dragged through a cut portion of a barbed wire fence.

January 5, 2018: An Arkansas Parole Officer received information that FISS and HUGHES had returned to the property at 62 CR 48.  Officers checked the residence and found it had been broken into once again, as well as an outbuilding.  A Honda ATV, a red trailer, and a welder were missing.

January 7, 2018: A black 5x10 utility trailer loading with sheet metal was stolen from the North Star Apartments in Mountain Home. 

January 9, 2018: A 2006 Ford E-150 van was reported stolen from a residence on Buzzard Roost Cutoff.

January 11, 2018: An 18 foot dual axle trailer was reported stolen from the Tracy Ferry Marina.

January 11, 2018: When FISS and HUGHES were arrested, officers found a 1997 SeaDoo personal watercraft and trailer.  This had been stolen from 304 Lake Norfork Drive.  At the same time, officers discovered that several checks had been written against the account of the victim from the burglary at 62 CR 48. 

Evidence and witness statements have connected DAVID FISS and BRANDY HUGHES with these crimes.  They are now being charged additionally as follows:

Residential Burglary (3 counts) – Felonies
Breaking or Entering (2 counts) – Felonies
Theft of Property (9 counts FISS, 10 counts HUGHES) – Felonies
Theft of Property (2 counts) – Misdemeanors
Criminal Mischief First Degree – Felony
Criminal Mischief First Degree (9 count) – Misdemeanors
Forgery (6 counts) – Felonies
Fleeing (1 count FISS) – Misdemeanor

In addition to the bond already in place on the previous charges, FISS and HUGHES will have an additional bond of $25,000 each on these new charges.

  

 

ORIGINAL RELEASE 01/12/2018:

DAVID MICHAEL FISS, 28 years old of Salesville, who has been on the Sheriff’s “Most Wanted” list since December 12, 2017, was apprehended Thursday afternoon, January 11th,  after deputies acted on a citizen tip as to his whereabouts.  A bench warrant had been issued for DAVID FISS on December 28, 2017 charging FISS with multiple felony and misdemeanor crimes.

     The warrant was obtained as a result of investigations into multiple thefts and break-ins reported between November 28, 2017 and December 12, 2017.

     On November 28, 2017, a 2011 Nissan Juke valued at $13,000 was reported to be stolen from the intersection of Dwelle Rd. and Hwy 5 South.  The vehicle had broken down and been temporarily left there.

     On December 4, 2017, a report was taken from 378 Hwy 177 South of the break-in of a shop building and theft of tools and the attempted break-in of a residence.  While taking this report, the victim also told deputies he received a water bill for the previous month showing 700 gallons of water use but that the residence had not been occupied during that time.  The Sheriff’s Office had previously taken another report of electrical power being stolen from a home at 11168 Hwy 5 South by an extension cord that had been run from the residence to a camper on the adjoining property. DAVID FISS had been identified as a suspect in this electrical power theft, and it was thought he might be connected to the water use.

     On December 8, 2017, a report was taken of the theft of a 1970 20-foot Shasta camper from 11366 Hwy 5 South.

     On December 9, 2017, a report was taken from 11168 Hwy 5 South that DAVID FISS had been coming to the residence uninvited for several days.  The home owner discovered the screen door on the rear of the residence had been cut open and entry made.  A .410 gauge shotgun and 3 pellet rifles were missing.

     On December 11, 2017, Sheriff’s Investigators went to 11110 Hwy 5 South to attempt to find DAVID FISS.  No contact was made with FISS at that address.  While there, Investigators observed a camper on the property behind the residence.  It was found to be the stolen Shasta camper from December 8th.  Located along with the camper was the stolen 2011 Nissan Juke from November 28th.  The vehicle had been spray painted and was partially disassembled. 

     On December 12, 2017, another report of a residential break-in and theft was taken from the same area.

     These investigations implicated DAVID M. FISS as the suspect in each, and a bench warrant was obtained from the Circuit Court for his arrest. FISS had already been placed on the Sheriff’s “Most Wanted” page of the website, requesting citizen assistance in locating him. 

     The Sheriff’s Office received a citizen tip Thursday afternoon that DAVID FISS was at a home on Edgehill Ln. in the Jordan area.  Officers from the Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, and the Arkansas Department of Corrections Canine Tracking Team went to the residence. DAVID FISS was found there and taken into custody.     A female, later identified as 29 year old BRANDY ROCHELLE HUGHES, had fled from the residence when officers were arriving.  The canine team tracked her for approximately two miles to another residence.  They observed muddy boot prints on the door, which had been kicked open. HUGHES was found hiding inside some cabinets inside the residence.  The owners were not home.  She was taken into custody at that time.

     DAVID FISS was transported to the Detention Center where he was booked on the charges specified in the warrant, which are:

Residential Burglary (4 counts) – Felonies
Theft of Property (5 counts) – Felonies
Theft of Property (1 count) – Misdemeanor
Criminal Mischief – Felony
Criminal Mischief – Misdemeanor
Criminal Trespass – Misdemeanor
Possession of Firearm by Certain Persons (convicted felon) – Felony
Habitual Offender – Penalty Enhancement

   Bond on these charges was set at $50,000 in accordance with the specifications of the warrant.  He will appear on January 18, 2018 in Baxter County Circuit Court to answer these charges.

     DAVID FISS has at least three (3) prior felony convictions, and he has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 22 times since 2007.

    BRANDY HUGHES was also transported to the Detention Center where she was booked on charges of:

Residential Burglary – Felony
Criminal Mischief – Misdemeanor
Failure to Appear in Court – Outstanding Misdemeanor Warrant

     HUGHES has a bond of $50,000 on these charges and will appear before the Circuit Court on January 18th to answer. 

     BRANDY HUGHES has been booked into the Detention Center a total of 14 times since 2009.

     During the apprehension of DAVID FISS, Sheriff’s Investigators found additional property believed to be stolen from other cases.  These included two other vehicles, a personal watercraft, and some trailers. The investigation continues, and both FISS and HUGHES will likely face additional charges as well.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff