Jeremy Shane Hardbarger, 35, Pea Ridge, was found at his parents' home on Andy Buck Road Wednesday, Jan. 14, after police followed leads connecting him to the suspect vehicle.
Shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, Pea Ridge Police were dispatched to a hit-and-run motor-vehicle accident on Ark. Hwy. 72, which CENCOM dispatchers originally stated happened at Jac's Ranch (outside the city limits). Upon investigation, it was discovered to have occurred at the intersection of Weston and Slack streets. The reporting party said the driver of the vehicle had initially been driving north in the south-bound lane of North Curtis Avenue, then turned around and followed him through town before "ramming" his vehicle from behind, then fleeing at a high rate of speed. The suspect vehicle is described as a '90s model Ford Mustang, white in color with a brown top.
Hardbarger declined to talk to police requesting that he be represented by an attorney.
The owner of the vehicle, Hardbarger's mother, told police he took the vehicle without permission and told her he had hit a deer.
Inspection by police revealed damage to the vehicle was consistent with the report of the 1996 Mustang being used to hit another vehicle, not a deer, according to the police report.
General News on 01/21/2015