Breaking from Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery: A manhunt is underway for a suspect in an early-morning shooting incident in that county.
At 9:15 a.m. today, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office and the dog tracking team from the North Central Arkansas Department of Corrections began a search for a suspect involved in the shooting. The search is concentrated in an area near CR 502 in the Promise Land area, northwest Baxter County.
The suspect, Alton Bruce Cooke (pictured in a 2016 booking photo), 28, is considered armed and dangerous.
His description: 6 feet 3 inches tall; 210 pounds; brown hair; and hazel eyes.
The incident took place around 5 a.m. on Highway 178 West in Midway, Ark, according to a release from Mongomery’s office.
The preliminary investigation indicates the victim and her male passenger turned from Highway 5 North onto Highway 178. Authorities say the suspect, driving a red 2009 GMC, intentionally rammed her vehicle. A short distance later the suspect rammed her vehicle a second time causing her to wreck in a yard near the Midway Post Office.
The suspect then fired multiple shots into the suspect’s vehicle and fled the area. Both victims were injured from the gunshot and were transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center where they were treated and released. Indications are the female victim and the suspect had a past relationship, according to the release from the sheriff.
No further information will be released at this time. The names of the victims are not being released at this time.
Image via Baxter County Sheriff’s Office
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