Adam D. Bartlett Jr., 32, the subject of a high-speed chase in early October who was taken into custody after another chase by law enforcement about two weeks later, has had more charges filed against him in Ozark and Howell counties. His address in recent court filings are listed as locations in both Bakersfield and Mtn. Grove.
In Ozark County, he faces a felony charge of resisting arrest by fleeing, creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death, plus charges of operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, stealing and stealing property valued at less than $150, all misdemeanors.
Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin reported that at about 8 a.m. Oct. 6, he was dispatched to a Bakersfield business to investigate a gas drive-off. En route, Martin said, he was informed by Howell County Cpl. Seth Smith that Bartlett, the suspect in an earlier pursuit, was driving a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the gas drive-off. An employee at the business reported $70.09 worth of fuel had been taken.
As Martin and Smith searched for the vehicle, the two were informed Arkansas State Police were in pursuit of the vehicle heading north on Highway 5 toward Missouri, then advised Ozark County deputies had taken over the pursuit and were traveling west on U.S. 160 toward Theodosia, reaching speeds of 110 mph.
The chase started after Bartlett had been identified by an off-duty deputy at the Mtn. Home, Ark., Walmart, according to court documents, but he wasn't taken into custody at that time.
On Oct. 20, Martin was made aware of another gas drive-off that happened the day before, and the suspect vehicle seen in security camera footage allegedly matched the one Bartlett was driving when he was apprehended.
At the time the Ozark County charges were filed, Bartlett was in custody at the Howell County Jail and a no-bond warrant issued, later set at $25,000. He was scheduled to appear Tuesday for a preliminary hearing before 44th Judicial Associate Circuit Court Judge Raymond Gross, and is being represented by Attorney Chase Opolka of Ava. Public records regarding that appearance had not been updated at press time.
Howell County charges filed Nov. 29 are felony counts of second-degree burglary, stealing property valued at $750 or more, and possession of burglary tools. The charges were filed based on a burglary reported on Oct. 4. It included the theft of property from a church office and the recovery of some of those items, plus burglary tools, from a vehicle reported stolen that Bartlett allegedly wrecked at the conclusion of the Oct. 5 chase.
The vehicle, a 2014 Ford Edge, was impounded by law enforcement and items recovered that had been reported stolen included a gym bag containing baseball memorabilia, knives, a plaque and foreign currency, plus a gas-powered small engine and a set of aluminum wheels reported stolen from an Ozark County residence.
Also discovered was a set of bolt cutters, a large adjustable wrench and a sledgehammer that didn't belong to the rightful owner of the vehicle, which had been reported stolen out of Rogersville in Webster County.
Howell County Deputy Rick Fox investigated the burglary and submitted his report, seeking charges, which were filed after Bartlett was taken into custody, with an attached $25,000 bond. That case is being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Heath Hardman. Bartlett had not secured an attorney for that particular case as of Tuesday afternoon, according to court records.
Other Howell County charges previously filed against him are first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest by fleeing, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest for a felony, leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage exceeding $1,000, and first-degree property damage.
The bond attached to those charges, filed in two separate cases, is a total of $50,000. Bartlett has entered not guilty pleas and was granted a change of judge. He is set to appear Jan. 8 before 44th Judicial Associate Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Bock for a plea or trial setting and is being represented by Special Public Defender Larry Burton.
Court records do not indicate that he has posted bail in any of the cases.
