Vincent Andrew Walrath

     The Sheriff's Office has arrested 31 year old VINCENT ANDREW WALRATH of Grandview, Missouri on multiple charges following a vehicle pursuit Thursday afternoon, December 5th.

     At approximately 3:14 PM Thursday, the Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a vehicle being stolen from a residence on Baxter CR 69.  The vehicle was a 2016 Chevrolet Trax.  The vehicle had been left running in the driveway while the owner had briefly stepped out.  A male wearing all black was seen to jump into the vehicle and drive off.  This information was broadcast over the radio to all Sheriff's Deputies. 

     At approximately 3:30 PM, Sheriff's Deputy Austin Morrison spotted the vehicle going East bound on the U. S. Hwy 62/412 Bypass.  Deputy Morrison turned around to follow the stolen vehicle and began accelerating to catch up with it.  The driver of the stolen vehicle took the State Highway 5 South exit ramp, with Deputy Morrison following.  Deputy Morrison attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle.  The driver refused to stop and continued South bound on State Highway 5.  The driver turned into the back side of the soccer complex at Amons Lake and approached a rock barricade.  He then drove into the ditch to attempt to drive between two large boulders, and he partially high-centered.  Deputy Morrison exited his patrol car and began giving commands to the driver, who ignored them.  The driver put the vehicle in reverse and backed-up, forcing Deputy Morrison to jump out of the way to keep from being hit.  The driver then moved forward again, crashing into a boulder and moving it just enough to allow him to get through.  The driver came back out to State Highway 5 and turned North heading back toward Mountain Home.  Deputy Morrison renewed the pursuit but lost sight of the vehicle. 

     When the driver came back to the U. S. Highway 62/412 bypass, he took the ramp to go East bound.  At this time, units with the Arkansas State Police found the vehicle and pursued it East bound.  A short time later, the vehicle wrecked-out in the area of The Home Depot.  The vehicle overturned, and the driver was detained at the scene.  The driver was identified as VINCENT WALRATH.  He was transported to Baxter Health Hospital in Mountain Home for treatment of injuries, and he was later brought to the Baxter County Detention Center for booking.  The Sheriff's Office has arrested WALRATH on charges of:

Theft of Property - Felony
Criminal Mischief in the First Degree - Felony
Aggravated Assault on an Officer - Felony
Fleeing by Vehicle - Felony
Habitual Offender - Penalty Enhancement

     WALRATH has a bond of $25,000 on these charges.  The Arkansas State Police is also filing separate charges related to their involvement in this incident.  WALRATH will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on December 16th. 

     It was also found that VINCENT WALRATH is currently out on pre-trial release bond from Ozark County, Missouri on vehicle theft charges from last month.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff