April 12, 2018

The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by Cotter PD, Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Department of Corrections K-9 Dog Team were involved in a man hunt in the City of Cotter for a parole absconder who fled from a traffic stop.

At approximately 1:30 pm, Baxter County Sheriff’s Investigators made a traffic stop on East Cotter Road.  The passenger in the vehicle provided false identification to investigators and then fled the traffic stop on foot into a wooded area.  The suspect was identified as 34 year old Brandon James Junek of Morrilton, Arkansas. 

The K-9 Dog Tracking Team, assisted by the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter, tracked the suspect to an area of 5th & McLean Streets.  Based on this and witnesses accounts and It is believed the suspect was given a ride out of the area. The man hunt was terminated at approximately 5 pm.

Brandon Junek has been sentenced 7 different times to prison since 2001.  He was arrested again in October 2017 for possession of drug paraphernalia and felon in possession of a firearm. He was released from Conway County Jail by the Parole Board on January 29th, 2018 after serving 102 days in the county jail. His past convictions include, Theft, Arson, Felon in possession of firearms (5 convictions) Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Controlled Substance.  Junek is still at large at the time of this release.

During the search of the area around 5th and McLean Streets, a man was arrested for Manufacturing a controlled substance when the remnants of an indoor marijuana grow operation was found in a detached garage at the residence at 504 McLean Ave, Cotter where the man lived.

Edward Everett Call, age 30 was arrested and charged with:

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Manufacture of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance Misdemeanor Possession of a Controlled Substance Disorderly Conduct Obstructing Governmental Operations

He was released from the Baxter County Detention Center after posting a $2990 bond pending his appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court on April 19th at 1 pm.

Sheriff John Montgomery