January 31, 2012 at approximately 4:13 pm, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call on Cochran Drive, just East of Mountain Home.  911 Dispatchers advised they had an open line and could hear yelling in the background with what sounded like a female occasionally asking for help.

     When Sgt. Ken Grayham and Deputy Billy Cox arrived at the residence the male suspect attempted to flee out the back door but fled back inside the residence when he encountered Deputy Cox.   The female victim and her 11 year old son ran out the front door.  The female had dialed 911 and hidden her cell phone where the suspect couldn’t find it.

     The male attempted to exit the front of the residence but after being warned numerous times, was pepper sprayed by Sgt. Grayham and then, after a brief struggle with Deputies, was taken into custody. 

     Sheriff’s Investigators arrived at the scene and after a preliminary investigation it was learned that the male suspect was the husband of the victim and was out on bond from a January 22 arrest by Baxter County Deputies of Domestic Battery and Terroristic Threatening involving the same victim.  A No Contact Order and Order of Protection were put in place since the incident.  It is believed the suspect gained entry to the home and held both his wife and her son against their will, making threats of serious injury and death to the victims.  The suspect is also believed to have used a handgun during the threats.  Investigators recovered a 22 caliber handgun.

Ramiro Cox Barajas, age 33 of Mountain Home is charged with:

Assault on a Family Member, 3^rd Degree                               Class A Misdemeanor
Violation of an Order of Protection                                         Class A Misdemeanor
Violation of No Contact Order X2
Terroristic Threatening                                                               Class A Misdemeanor
Resisting Arrest                                                                            Class A Misdemeanor
Possession of Firearms by Felon                                               Class D Felony
False Imprisonment                                                                    Class C Felony
Failure to Appear on Misdemeanor

     Barajas bond is set at $50,000 pending his appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court on  February 16, 2012 at 9 am.

Sheriff John Montgomery