Thomas Earl Watson

Salesville Man Charged With Aggravated Assault

On Wednesday, October 19, at approximately 4:45 pm, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 911 call of a man who fired at his neighbor’s house in Salesville, Arkansas. 

When Deputy Doug Meurer arrived, the suspect told Deputy Meurer to go ahead and arrest him, he had fired the gun.  The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Sheriff’s Investigators arrived on the scene and after processing the scene and interviewing witnesses it is believed that the suspect, 51 year old Thomas Earl Watson had gotten into an argument with his neighbors over their driving in the neighborhood.  From statements of several witnesses that were present and Watson’s Daughter, it is believed Watson went into an outbuilding on his property and came out with a gun and began firing at the neighbor’s house.  It is believed multiple shots were fired, possibly as many as nine (9).  Investigators were able to recover three (3) 9mm shell casings that appeared freshly fired.  At the time of the shooting, there were thirteen (13) persons outdoors at the neighbor’s house including 6 adults and 7 children.  No one was injured.

Thomas Earl Watson, 79 Oakridge Drive, Salesville, is charged with:

Aggravated Assault / Thirteen (13) Counts                  Class D Felony

Watson was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center on Bond of $50,000 pending his appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court on October 27 at 9 am.

Sheriff John Montgomery