A Searcy County man has been arrested following an alleged attack against his nephew. Fifty-seven-year-old Clifton Lee Carpenter of Pleasant Grove is facing charges of aggravated assault, violation of an order of protection and harassment.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on January 17, the Stone County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence along Arkansas Highway 14 East to a report of shots fired towards an individual.
Due to a long running family dispute over land between Carpenter and the victim, multiple deputies responded to the call.
The victim told authorities he drove his ATV down the road behind his mother’s residence to get his game cameras. When he came back, he heard someone yelling at him and allegedly saw Carpenter in a tree stand with a gun. He spun the ATV around and took off, stating when he looked back over his shoulder he saw Carpenter fire the gun towards him. He then drove to a safe location and called for help.
Upon arrival, Carpenter was not to be found. Another man at the residence told authorities Carpenter was in the woods and when he went to find him, he came back alone, claiming Carpenter stated he would return in a few minutes. After Carpenter did not show, authorities send the man back into the woods to find him, but when he returned, the man stated he could not find the suspect.
Authorities left a written statement form at the residence for Carpenter. In a written statement, Carpenter claimed that he did yell at the victim and he did fire a shot after the victim turned and left. He claims he shot east towards a coyote but he missed. Carpenter said he did not come out of the woods to speak to deputies because he did not want to go to jail.
According to the victim’s statement and Carpenter’s voluntary written statement, Carpenter violated a ten-year order of protection by speaking to the victim and standing in view of the victim.
Carpenter was arrested Tuesday morning and booked into the Stone County Detention Center. He faces a felony count of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of violation of a protection order and harassment. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.
In the affidavit, law enforcement noted Carpenter is considered armed and dangerous, having a history of meeting law enforcement with a firearm in hand. He also has told law enforcement since the law will not take care of his family’s property disputes, he will. He has also clearly stated to law enforcement on more than one occasion he will kill the victim.
Carpenter was arrested Tuesday morning and booked into the Stone County Detention Center. He faces a felony count of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of violation of a protection order and harassment. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI