The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office experienced a moderately busy Labor Day Holiday Weekend this year. Activity recorded from Friday, September 2nd through Monday, September 5th indicated the following numbers:

94 Complaint Calls or Calls for Service answered by Sheriff’s Deputies.
32 Detention Center Bookings from all area law enforcement agencies.
31 Citations issued by Sheriff’s Deputies for Misdemeanors and Traffic Offenses.
27 Written Warnings issued by Sheriff’s Deputies for Traffic Offenses.
12 Warrants of Arrest served by Sheriff’s Deputies.

Nine (9) of the total Detention Center Bookings were for alcohol-related offenses. Seven (7) were for Driving While Intoxicated, one (1) was for Boating While Intoxicated, and one (1) was for Drinking in Public.

The Sheriff’s Office conducted two Sobriety Checkpoints on the evening of Friday, September 2nd, followed by extra DWI enforcement patrols as part of the Selected Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant that the Sheriff’s Office received from the Arkansas Highway Safety Office. One of the checkpoints was held on Hand Cove Road (CR 91) during which Sheriff’s Deputies made contact with a total of forty (40) drivers. The second checkpoint was held later the same evening on Cannie Baker Rd (CR 27) during which Sheriff’s Deputies made contact with a total of forty-three (43) drivers. As a result of these checkpoints and the follow-up extra patrols targeting impaired drivers, Deputies made a total of two (2) arrests for Driving While Intoxicated and issued six (6) citations for No Liability Insurance.

The Sheriff’s Office also provided patrols of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers parks located in Baxter County on both Lake Norfork and Lake Bull Shoals under contract with the Corp. Deputies reported all area campgrounds and recreation areas were at or near capacity. There were no significant water-related incidents reported this weekend.

John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff