Tyler Paul Hudgens

     The Sheriff’s Office has arrested 35 year old TYLER PAUL HUDGENS of Norfork, Arkansas on charges connected to a residential burglary that was reported on August 1, 2018 on Southard Lane at Norfork.  On that date, a homeowner reported that someone had broken into her residence and barn.  The front door of the residence was ajar and damaged.  An electric range and a gas wall heater valued at $1,600 had been stolen.  All of the drawers, cabinets, boxes, and closets had been gone through and ransacked. 

     The barn was found to have been forcibly entered into and items moved around.  A 1987 grey Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck had been stolen with an estimated value of $2,500.  The victim stated the battery on the truck was dead.  In the high grass around the area it was evident that the truck had been hauled away on a trailer.

     Late in 2018 information was developed indicating that TYLER HUDGENS was driving a late model grey Chevrolet pickup truck that was stolen.  The Arkansas State Police stopped HUDGENS while he was driving such a vehicle, but a stolen check of the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate attached to the truck did not show a return as a stolen vehicle and no further action was taken at that time.

     In May, 2019 information again surfaced that TYLER HUDGENS was driving a stolen grey Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.  Investigators were told that HUDGENS had removed the vehicle identification number plate from a similar vehicle that had been burned up in a fire and placed it on the truck he was driving around.  On or about May 16th, officers were able to locate another “hidden” vehicle identification number on the upper frame of the truck.  This VIN number matched the VIN number of the truck that had been reported stolen during the burglary in May, 2018. 

     Sheriff’s Investigators applied for a bench warrant for the arrest of TYLER HUDGENS, and he was arrested today.  HUDGENS has been incarcerated in the Baxter County Detention Center on charges of:

Residential Burglary – Felony
Breaking or Entering – Felony
Defacing or Altering VIN Number – Felony
Theft of Property – Felony
Habitual Offender – Penalty Enhancement

     HUDGENS is being held in lieu of $25,000 bond on these charges and will appear in the Circuit Court to answer on May 30th.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff