A Fayetteville man and Atkins woman are both facing a felony charge of possession of firearms by certain persons after Farmington police stopped their vehicle and found six rounds of .22 caliber ammunition on the middle console and a revolver in the trunk, according to a Farmington police report.
John Atchley, 30, of Fayetteville, was arrested April 12 in connection with no tail light, no proof of insurance, no proof of ownership, possession of controlled substance, possession of firearm.
Mara Bridges, 27, of Atkins, was arrested April 12 in connection with obstructing governmental operations, flight from officer on foot, possession of controlled substance, possession of firearm.
The report states that Officer Justin Collins stopped a Ford Taurus at 12:35 a.m. April 12, near the intersection of Hill Street and Bois D'Arc when he noticed it had a busted passenger side brake light.
Atchley was driving the vehicle and Bridges was the passenger. Collins learned Atchley was a parolee with a search waiver on file and later discovered Bridges was listed as an absconder with the board of parole and probation and had an active nationwide extradition warrant.
Collins reported that as he placed Atchley in handcuffs to complete the investigation, Bridges fled on foot. Washington County Sheriff's Office and Prairie Grove Police Department arrived shortly to help search for Bridges.
Collins said he searched the vehicle and found ammunition in plain sight on the middle console and saw a black frame revolver with wooden grips in the trunk.
Bridges was then located in a creek nearby by county deputies and brought back to the scene of the traffic stop.
Both denied knowing about a weapon in the vehicle, according to the report. Bridges also denied knowledge of any ammunition.
The suspects were taken to Washington County Detention Center and turned over for further processing.
General News on 04/25/2018