Austin Earl Dutton

     A parole absconder, 60 year old AUSTIN EARL DUTTON, fled from deputies this afternoon, April 6th, on an all terrain vehicle (ATV)  and was captured a short time later.

     Deputies were conducting surveillance on a residence on Baxter CR 27, the residence of AUSTIN EARL DUTTON, who was known to have outstanding arrest warrants.  The Sheriff's Office had received complaints that DUTTON had been driving his pickup truck up and down Baxter CR 27 in a reckless manner and did not have a driver license.  Deputies received information that DUTTON was on the South end of his property on an all terrain vehicle and was shooting a gun. 

     As deputies went to that area, they could hear gunfire.  A deputy saw DUTTON at the end of the field.  As the deputy approached, he watched DUTTON make motions with his arms as if he was about to shoot a gun and then fired a round.  When DUTTON saw the deputy, he jumped on the all terrain vehicle and fled across a creek and up a hill into the woods.  Deputies converged on that area in an attempt to intercept DUTTON.  Deputies could not see him, but they could hear the ATV running in the woods.  A short time later, Lt. Rick Lucy found DUTTON in the Rosswood Subdivision, which is South of the area DUTTON had fled from.  DUTTON was hiding on the ground behind his ATV.  He was arrested and taken into custody at that time. 

     Deputies then returned to the area where DUTTON had first been spotted, and they retrieved a .22 caliber rifle with a cut off stock on the ground, as well as a partial box of .22 caliber ammunition and some spent shell casings.  It appeared that DUTTON had been shooting into an old washing machine.

     AUSTIN EARL DUTTON was taken to the Baxter County Detention Center and jailed on charges of:

Possession of Firearm by Certain Persons (convicted felon) - Felony
Fleeing - Misdemeanor
Failure to Appear in Court - Misdemeanor
Parole Violation - Felony

     He is currently being held in the Detention Center without bond awaiting an appearance in Circuit Court later this month.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff