Randi E. Dodd	Heather A. Lewis	Gena G. Edmonston

     Three persons were arrested Wednesday afternoon, June 5th, when officers from the Arkansas Community Corrections Fugitive Task Force went to 188 Wild Fern Lane in Baxter County, which is the residence of probationer JAMES F. LOOSEY, who has a warrantless search waiver on file.

     Upon their arrival at the residence, officers observed two persons fleeing on an all terrain vehicle.  They were subsequently identified as STEPHEN WHAPLES and HEATHER LEWIS.  Officers saw WHAPLES push LEWIS off the all terrain vehicle and continue to flee.  STEPHEN WHAPLES is a parolee with an absconder status.  HEATHER LEWIS was then brought back to the residence.

     When officers entered the residence JAMES LOOSEY was not found there, but  they observed multiple firearms in the living room area.  They also found two sets of digital scales on a coffee table.  One of these scales tested positive for methamphetamine residue.  An additional search of the residence uncovered numerous syringes and smoking devices that were found in a bedroom shared by RANDI DODD and JAMES LOOSEY.  In all approximately 22 firearms were recovered from the residence, with the majority of them being loaded and ready to fire.  Three of the firearms were found in the living room.  The remainder was found in one of two gun safes found inside the residence.

     Two of these firearms had the serial numbers removed.  One of those was eventually found to have been reported stolen. 

     As officers were searching the residence a vehicle pulled into the driveway of the residence, then turned around and left.  This vehicle was stopped.  The driver was identified as probationer GENA GAYE EDMONSTON.  She also has a warrantless search waiver on file.  A search of her vehicle and person uncovered approximately 9 small plastic baggies that contained approximately 3 grams of methamphetamine..  There was also a glass container that held approximately 1 gram of a brown substance that field tested positive for fentynal.  EDMONSTON admitted to having used methamphetamine earlier that day. 

     When a Sheriff’s Investigator interviewed RANDI DODD she advised that WHAPLES and LEWIS had arrived at the residence approximately one hour before officers got there,  and that the three of them had been at the residence the majority of the time.  She stated that WHAPLES and LEWIS fled when they observed officers approaching the residence. 

     RANDI DODD, HEATHER LEWIS, and GENA EDMONSTON were all arrested and transported to the Baxter County Detention Center where they were booked on charges as follows:

RANDI DODD booked on charges of:

Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons (convicted felon) (23 counts) – Felonies
Possession of Defaced Firearms – Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts) – Felonies
Habitual Offender – Penalty Enhancement

DODD remains in custody in lieu of $15,000 bond on those charges and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on June 20th.  She has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 5 times since 2016.

HEATHER LEWIS booked on charges of:

Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons (convicted felon) (3 counts) – Felonies
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts ) – Felonies
Habitual Offender – Penalty Enhancement

LEWIS remains in custody in lieu of $15,000 bond and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on June 20th.  She has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 18 times since 2009.

GENA EDMONSTON booked on charges of:

Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver – Felony
Possession of Schedule I or Schedule II Controlled Substance with Purpose to Deliver – Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts) – Felonies

EDMONSTON was released from custody after posting $15,000 bond.  She is set to appear before the Circuit Court to answer on June 20th.  She has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 3 times since 2018.

    Warrants are currently being obtained for the arrests of JAMES F. LOOSEY and STEPHEN WHAPLES on numerous charges related to this incident.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff