A man wanted in Arkansas and Ohio has been arrested after being discovered living in the woods in the Sulphur Rock area.
According to court information, investigators with the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Independence County Sheriff’s Department responded on June 20 to a report of a “wanted man” living in “an old run-down camper” about 200 yards off Vaughan Street in Sulphur Rock.
A check with the National Crime Information Center confirmed the man, identified as William Daniel Bewley (pictured below), 54, had been wanted by the Arkansas Board of Parole for about two years and was also wanted by Ohio authorities for failure to appear.
When authorities observed Bewley at the front door of the camper, he was taken into custody without incident. According to the arrest affidavit, a loaded sawed-off shotgun was located by the front door, and digital scales with methamphetamine residue and other drug-related paraphernalia were discovered in the camper. Shotgun slugs and a small amount of meth were also found in Bewley’s pocket, the court information said.
Bewley is charged with six felonies, including possession of a controlled substance, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, and criminal use of a prohibited weapon. He is also being charged as a habitual offender.
According to the court documents, Bewley has been convicted of at least one violent offense and has a history of failure to appear, battery on law enforcement, absconding, escape, and fleeing.
His bond has been set at $50,000.
Image: Independence County Sheriff’s Department
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