Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fight leads to chase, ends in NCSO lot

A fight for unknown reasons led to the arrest of a 29-year-old Hope man.

According to court records, the Prescott Police Department was called because the driver of a truck was trying to run another motorist off the road on Main Street around 10 p.m., July 10.

Gary Hendrix was the driver trying to avoid being run off the road, and headed to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

PPD officer Ann Jordan arrived at the NCSO parking lot and was told Hendrix was buying fuel at the Fuel Express when Ronald Hall pulled up.

It was learned the incident began in the county, so deputy Danny Martin was called in on the investigation.

According to Hendrix, Hall pulled up behind him at the pumps. The two walked around the corner of the building and started talking.

Hall allegedly shoved Hendrix and tried to hit him, only to have the punch blocked. They began talking again, with Hendrix telling the officers he thought everything had been settled.

When they went back to their trucks, Hendrix and Hall shook hands, but Hall slapped Hendrix in the face.

Hendrix hit Hall and got in his truck, only to have Hall pull down the tailgate and kick it, while reportedly yelling "I know where you live and what you drive."

At this point Hendrix left only to have Hall come after him and attempt to run him off the road.

After giving the officers a statement Hendrix went home. But, at 12:05 a.m. he called the NCSO saying Hall had came to his house and shot at him.

Martin went to Hendrix's house and found six spent hulls from a 30/30 rifle.

Arkansas State Trooper Darren Neal spotted Hall's truck on Highway 67 toward Prescott. He began following it, only to have Hall turn around and head back toward Gurdon.

The record states hall turned onto County Road 35 at a high rate of speed with Neal in pursuit. Neal followed Hall as he cut through several county roads, but lost him off CR 37 in the Nubbin Hill area.

The Hope Police Department and Hempstead County Sheriff's Office were told of the incident and to be on the lookout for Hall, who wound up being arrested in Hope. Officers, though, found no weapon in his vehicle at the time.

Hall has been charged with domestic battery in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor, committing a terroristic act, a class B felony with a sentence of 5-20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000, terroristic threatening in the first degree, a class D felony, with a sentence up to six years and fine up to $10,000, and possession of firearms by a certain person, also a class D felony.

A background check on Hall tuned up a felony arrest for possession of a control substance in 1991.