Details have been released about Wednesday’s manhunt in northern Baxter County that led to the arrest of 39-year-old Terry Lee Shumate of Mountain Home. Shumate was taken into custody around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, just under six hours after he and another man were caught stealing items from a home and fired shots at the homeowner. The second suspect has not been identified and is still being sought.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says the homeowner caught the two men stealing items from his yard on Baxter County Road 99 shortly before 11. The two fled the scene and the homeowner began chasing the suspects. The chase went east on Baxter County Road 36 where at one point, the suspects stopped their car and began shooting out of their windows at the victim and then continued fleeing. The victim was not hit and continued after the duo, but lost sight of them.
A citizen, who had heard about the incident on a police scanner, reported to the sheriff’s office the vehicle had crossed State Highway 201 north and was eastbound on Baxter County Road 37. Deputies found the car near Baxter County Road 84 with one suspect still inside, but he fled when law enforcement arrived. The second suspect was not at the location. Deputies found a gun and ammunition in the vehicle.
The North Central Unit – Arkansas Department of Corrections’ canine tracking team arrived from Calico Rock to assist in the manhunt and the sheriff’s office helicopter was launched. Later in the afternoon, the sheriff’s office received a report that someone had entered a mobile home on Baxter County Road 35. The woman and children inside were able to escape out the back door, but Shumate barricaded himself inside the mobile home.
The Special Response Team for the Mountain Home Police Department was asked to respond at that point. After a stand-off, Shumate surrendered and was taken into custody.
Shumate is facing multiple charges, including aggravated residential burglary, a class Y felony, the most serious classification of crime not punishable by the death penalty. He is faces two felony charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and single felony charges of aggravated assault and fleeing. Misdemeanor charges include criminal tresspass, theft of property and endangering the welfare of a minor. He also faces charges for expired tags, no insurance, driving with a suspended driver’s license and being a habitual offender. His bond is set at $250,000.
Other agencies involved in the manhunt included the Arkansas State Police and the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office.
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