The Arkansas State Police, assisted by the Sheriff’s Office, is investigating the death of a man who died as a result of being shot by a Baxter County Deputy Sheriff on Monday evening, March 19th, in the Lone Rock area.

     The deputy involved in the shooting was dispatched to the Lone Rock Store at 7755 Push Mountain Road at approximately 6:11 PM to take a theft report.  After arriving at the store, the deputy was made aware that a tractor that matched the description of one reported stolen earlier in the day in the same general area was passing by the store and going West on Baxter CR 72, which is adjacent to the Lone Rock Store.

     The deputy followed the tractor down Baxter CR 72 a short distance and conducted a traffic stop at approximately 6:49 PM to inquire further into the status of the tractor.   Two minutes later, at approximately 6:51 PM, the deputy advised by radio that shots had been fired, then reported that a man was down.  Additional officers from multiple agencies responded to the location to assist, and an ambulance was dispatched from Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, as were fire/rescue personnel from the Lone Rock Fire Department.

     The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division was called to the scene to take the lead in the investigation into the shooting.  Preliminary information indicates that once the deputy stopped the tractor, the man operating the tractor confronted the deputy with a crossbow.  A physical struggle ensued, and the deputy shot the man with his sidearm.  The man was killed, and the deputy sustained minor injury.

     The matter is currently under active investigation.  The names of the deputy and the deceased are not yet being released, pending notification of next of kin of the deceased.  The body of the deceased was transferred to the Baxter County Coroner.  Other agencies assisting were the Mountain Home Police Department, Arkansas State Police Highway Patrol Division, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.   Additional information will be released when deemed appropriate by the investigating agencies.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff