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Independence County authorities arrest wanted man after struggle in trailer park (UPDATED)

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Having information on the location of a wanted man, Independence County Narcotics Officer Chris Toland along with Sheriff Shawn Stephens, Chief Deputy Aaron Moody, and Probation/Parole Officer Melissa Stephens recently responded to a mobile home in the Spring Valley Trailer Park outside Batesville.

When they arrived, two females were on the front porch and were instructed to put their hands up and come off the porch. As they exited, the wanted man, 44-year-old Eric James Nelson, came out of the mobile home and onto the porch. When he was told to put his hands up, he fled back into the mobile home with Toland in pursuit.

After a struggle with Nelson, the officers took him into custody.

Nelson was carrying a .9 mm automatic handgun in his boot, according to authorities. Officers also found on Nelson, a digital scale and two syringes with all three items testing positive for the residue of methamphetamine.

No other illegal drug items were found in the residence.

Formal charges are being presented to the prosecuting attorney to be filed in the case, according to Toland, who also noted Nelson’s criminal check returned a total of ten previously convicted prior felonies.

Charges being sought include two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and a count of a previously convicted felon being in possession of a firearm.

UPDATE: June 27, 2018, 1: 52 p.m.

We’ve reached out to authorities to clarify whether the .9mm pistol Nelson was carrying was an automatic (as noted in the initial report) or a semi-automatic.

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