Press Release

10/17/2011 

On 10/15/2011 at approximately 1:20 am, police responded to a disturbance call at a local restaurant. Upon arrival, police were notified that the individuals causing the disturbance had left the area. The restaurant manager requested police to check a vehicle that had been parked on their parking lot for about 3 hours. 

After approaching the vehicle, an officer immediately recognized Penny Whitson, a 48 year old female of Mountain Home in the vehicle. The officer ran a license plate and vehicle identification number check on the vehicle and learned it was reported stolen from West Plains, Missouri and it was not registered to Penny Whitson. Also, several items of drug paraphernalia and a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine was located in her possession. Police are assisting West Plains, Missouri authorities with their investigation into the stolen vehicle with information obtained locally.

 Penny was charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth), a class D felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, a class D felony, and theft by receiving, a class C felony. She was incarcerated into the Baxter County Detention Facility on a $20,000 bond. 

Carry Manuel
Chief of Police