Saturday June 18, 2011, at approximately 2:16 pm, 911 received a call from a woman in the Clarkridge area. The woman, Connie Hager, told 911 she had arrived at the residence of Archibald Smith on CR 784 and found someone floating face down in the swimming pool. First responders from the Clarkridge Fire Department and Deputies from the Baxter County Sheriff's Office responded.

     When Deputy Tracy Munson arrived, Clarkridge first responders were performing CPR on the victim, 84 year old Archibald Smith.  Ambulance personnel from Baxter Regional Medical Center arrived and continued CPR until the victim was pronounced deceased at 3:07 pm. Mr. Smith  lived at the residence with Ms. Hager.

     Baxter County Investigator Mike Day responded and after the preliminary investigation, it is believed that the Ms. Hager and Mr. Smith left the residence at approximately 11 am. They drove separately to Mountain Home. When Ms. Hager arrived back home at approximately 2:15 Mr. Smith was already home. Ms. Hager stated she found Mr. Smith face down in the pool but wasn't sure at the time she called 911 whether it was Smith or not. Ms. Hager told Sheriff's Investigator Day that Mr. Smith had planned on cleaning debris from the pool when he got home. Authorities believe Mr. Smith drowned in the swimming pool.

     All evidence and other indications appear that the drowning was accidental. The body of the victim, Archibald Smith is being sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy to confirm the cause and manner of death.

Sheriff John Montgomery

Revised 06/20/2011