Michael T. Davidson

Justin E. Farmer

     Two persons were arrested Saturday afternoon, July 6th, on charges stemming from a moving road rage incident involving alleged stolen property.

     At approximately 2:06 PM, the Sheriff’s Office received a call from a woman who had previously reported the theft of a top from her husband’s Mazda Miata.  The woman stated she had just spotted a Mazda Miata at Walgreens in Mountain Home that had the stolen top on it.  The vehicle then left Walgreens and was reported to be North bound on State Highway 5 North being followed by the caller and others. 

     The vehicles involved traveled to Midway, then turned South on State Highway 126 headed toward Gassville.    Multiple calls to the Sheriff’s Office and 911 reported vehicles involved in the chase being rammed.  Reports indicate that one of the pursuing vehicles was disabled, at least temporarily, on Highway 5 North and a second pursuing vehicle was disabled in the area of the Midway Fire Department.  The Miata and a third vehicle giving chase were then involved in a crash near the intersection of State Highway 126 N and Wildcat Shoals Road.  A Gassville Police Office arrived on scene there at approximately 2:18 PM. 

     At the scene of this crash, a man identified as 25 year old MICHAEL TIMOTHY DAVIDSON, was seen by officers to be holding a metal rod and yelling at the two persons inside the Mazda Miata.  DAVIDSON was driving a Chevrolet Blazer.  The persons inside the Miata told officers they did not know who was chasing them or why and denied any knowledge of a stolen top.  They alleged that MICHAEL DAVIDSON and others attempted to run them off the roadway and that DAVIDSON had struck the windshield of the Miata with the metal rod following the crash.  The passenger of the Miata suffered cuts to her legs from the glass.

    The driver of the Miata further alleged that DAVIDSON had side-swiped the Miata with his vehicle.  In addition, the driver of a Dodge Charger, identified as 24 year old JUSTIN EUGENE FARMER, was alleged to have cut in front of the Miata and slammed on his brakes causing the vehicles to swerve into the oncoming traffic lane.   An independent witness who was following behind these vehicles gave a statement confirming this account.

     The top to the Miata had come off in the area of Gregg Farm Supply and was later recovered.  The driver of the remaining vehicle that had been chasing the Miata gave a different account of the incident, however his account was not corroborated by independent witnesses.

     MICHAEL TIMOTHY DAVIDSON of Mountain Home was arrested by deputies and taken to the Detention Center where he was booked on charges of:

Aggravated Assault (2 counts) – Felonies
Criminal Mischief in the First Degree – Felony

     DAVIDSON was released from custody after posting $20,000 bond.  He will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on July 11th.

     JUSTIN EUGENE FARMER of Mountain Home was arrested by deputies and taken to the Detention Center where he was booked on a charge of:

Aggravated Assault – Felony

     FARMER was released from custody after posting $10,000 bond.  He will appear before the Circuit Court to answer also on July 11th.

     The investigation into the incident is continuing.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff