The Izard County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a man on drug charges.
According to court documents filed within the county on Thursday, Chief Deputy Dammon McGilton with the Stone County Sheriff’s Office received information that 37-year-old Joshua Whitworth was in the Sylamore area of Stone and Izard Counties.
He was listed as one of Texas’s most wanted and was affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood.
Whitworth was wanted for aggravated robbery, weapons charges, and meth distribution.
Deputy McGilton was notified the day before by an agent in Texas that the suspect could be in the area and was driving a gold Z-71 Chevrolet Pickup with noticeable damage.
On Feb. 15, McGilton was notified by a citizen that Whitworth was seen driving around the Sylamore area.
Deputy McGilton contacted Izard County dispatch and let them know he would be in their county.
At 11:30 that evening, the Deputy located a vehicle fitting the description of the one Whitworth was driving.
McGilton exited his vehicle and began to approach the driver in the truck.
The driver put the vehicle in reverse and went backward at a high rate of speed, ultimately striking a tree.
Deputy McGilton opened the door and attempted to take Whitworth into custody.
He then yelled, “I got a gun,” and was reaching into the pockets on his hoody.
After a brief struggle between Whitworth and McGilton tumbling down an embankment, he was able to get away.
Two baggies of a white crystalline substance were located on the ground near the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Whitworth’s phone was also located near the truck.
A female was inside the vehicle and was taken into custody for questioning but was released a short time later.
Izard County Chief Deputy Charlie Melton called for backup from the Izard County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas Department of Corrections K-9 Unit, Stone County Deputies, members of the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Mountain View Police Department.
The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office Aerial Unit responded to the scene at daylight.
A manhunt ensued, and shortly after daylight, officers located a man on an ATV that began to run from them.
After identifying it was Whitworth, officers chased him down a mountain where it appeared Whitworth had changed clothes and fled on foot into a heavily wooded area. At 9 am on Feb. 16, Whitworth was taken into custody by the ADC K-9 Unit.
He was transported to the Izard County Detention Center.
Whitworth is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, misdemeanor fleeing on foot, and misdemeanor resisting arrest.
His bond was set at $25,000.