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John Pate
A man who sought the position of Baxter County sheriff in last year’s primary recently found himself on the other side of the law in Benton County. Fifty-two-year-old John Pate is facing a felony count of aggravated assault.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Centerton Police Department, an officer was dispatched on Feb. 24 to a residence on Leigh Street for a report of someone being threatened with a firearm. While responding to the area, the officer observed a pickup truck traveling on Spicewood Trail. He reportedly recognized the vehicle as he had just left the Leigh Street address for a welfare check of some children, and based on the previous call, the driver had identified himself as a private investigator conducting surveillance on the residence for a client.
The officer conducted a traffic stop on the truck, and the driver identified himself as Pate, a private detective and a retired law-enforcement officer. Pate reportedly said he had been hired to watch the property and individuals at the Leigh Street address, and he several firearms on his person. The officer claims he could see a pistol plainly visible in the center partition between the seats. Pate said he had been hired by the spouse of the unidentified children for a custody issue.
Pate stated after law enforcement left the residence from the welfare check, he was approached by a male and female, and the female reportedly began banging on his window while yelling at him. He claimed he was afraid for his safety and retrieved the pistol from the center console. When the female screamed he had a firearm, Pate reportedly told her he had other firearms but did not point a gun or threaten anyone.
The officer says he noticed a female passenger, and Pate said she was his girlfriend. The passenger reportedly confirmed Pate’s account and said she hid in the floorboard in fear. Pate and his passenger agreed to complete written statements.
The female victim later drove to the scene and identified the driver and truck as the one she confronted on Leigh Street. She stated after the officer left the residence, she and her boyfriend approached the truck, knocked on the window and asked the driver what he wanted. She was reportedly recording the incident on her phone, and the driver allegedly pointed a pistol at her. She yelled he had a gun, and the driver replied, “Yes, I got three.”
The victim played the video for the officer, and the driver can be seen pointing the pistol at her. Her boyfriend then arrived and told the officer the driver also pointed the gun at him and said he was “fixing to use it.” As the boyfriend backed away, the driver allegedly exited the truck and said, “We can finish this right now.” He then reportedly reentered his vehicle and drove away.
The officer returned to Pate, and during the investigation, it was discovered the passenger was a client who hired Pate. She was reportedly in a custody battle with the victim’s boyfriend and was attempting to use Pate’s services to win a civil suit concerning visitation. Pate continued to deny he pointed a gun at anyone as he was arrested and taken into custody.
As the investigation continued, it was discovered the passenger was a convicted felon and prohibited from being near firearms. Pate was transported to the Benton County jail without incident.
Pate has been released on a bond of $10,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Benton County Circuit Court next month.
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