UPDATE:

4:45 pm Update on search for Alton Bruce Cooke

The search for 28-year old Alton Bruce Cooke continues.  The manhunt this morning had centered in an area near CR 502 in the Promise Land Area.  The vehicle, a Black 2010 GMC Sierra truck, which was the vehicle the suspect had driven and used in the assault this morning, was found wrecked in the woods in that area. Tracking dogs from the Calico Rock Prison were being used in an attempt to locate the suspect. A piece of clothing believed to have been worn by the suspect was also found near a residence in that area.

Around noon today the search in the Promise Land area was scaled back. Several leads and numerous interviews have been conducted by Investigators with a search warrant being executed on the suspect's vehicle.  The Arkansas Department of Community Corrections Absconder Team was contacted, and they are now assisting in the search for Cooke.

A warrant of arrest has been issued for Alton Bruce Cook.  The charges are:

Attempted First Degree Murder, 2-Counts           Class Y Felony
Felon in Possession of a Firearm                            Class B Felony
Unauthorized Use of Another Person's Property to Commit a Crime         Class B Felony
Battery in the 1st Degree                                         Class B Felony
Aggravated Assault, 4-Counts                                Class D Felony

The Judge signing the warrant of arrest set the bond at $500,000.

Alton Bruce Cooke is considered armed and dangerous.  Anyone who has information on Cooke's whereabouts are asked to contact the Baxter County Sheriff's Office at 870-425-7000 or call 911.

Sheriff John Montgomery

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Manhunt Underway For Suspect in Shooting Incident

9:15 am. The Baxter County Sheriff's Office and the Dog Tracking Team from the North Central Arkansas Department of Corrections are currently searching for a suspect involved in an early morning shooting.  The search is concentrated in an area near CR 502 in the Promise Land area, northwest Baxter County.

The suspect, 28-year old Alton Bruce Cooke is considered armed and dangerous. 

Description:

6 ft 3 inches
210 pounds
Brown Hair
Hazel Eyes

The incident took place around 5 am this morning on Highway 178 West in Midway, Arkansas.  Preliminary investigation indicates the victim and her male passenger, turned from Highway 5 North onto Highway 178. The suspect, driving a 2009 GMC, Red in color, intentionally rammed her vehicle.  A short distance later the suspect rammed her vehicle a second time causing her to wreck in a yard near the Midway Post Office. The suspect then fired multiple shots into the suspect's vehicle and fled the area.  Both Victims were injured from the gunshot and were transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center where they were treated and released. Indications are the female victim and suspect had a past relationship.

No further information will be released at this time.  The names of the victims are not being released at this time.

Sheriff John Montgomery