TLO VideoCast for June 27, 2009

06-27-2009

All programs are available by using the drop down above the video player pane. The list goes from newest to oldest. Program notes fore the current week are always listed below.

Program Notes For This Week (June 27, 2009):

Update on Harps Cigarette issue: The issue of Harps Grocery chain wanting your drivers license for cigarette purchase is updated.

Detention Center Update: In this program, the issue of the suicide in Baxter County Detention Center one year ago is updated with news from Baxter County Judge Joe Bodenhamer.

Double Standard for Town of Mtn Home?: new concern of a “double standard” has arisen for the town of Mountain Home. Seems that you are not allowed to set of “Firecrackers” within the town limits, but they issue permits for companies to sell them. Is that not a double standard?

Suicide in Baxter County Detention Center - one year later

06-23-2009

By: Jake Jones

Over a year has passed, but June 1, 2008 probably started of like any other day at the Baxter County Detention Center (jail), but within a few hours, actually the wee hours of the morning of that fateful day, someone had committed suicide at the facility here in Mountain Home, AR. And up until now the details have been sketchy at best.

A thirty seven year old male by the name of “Scott Ellis” was reported to be walking along hwy. 5 North waving a gun at passing vehicles. Sheriff’s Deputies responded, and apprehended him with several weapons, and took him to the Detention Center.

According to information in my possession, Ellis told the officers to go ahead and shoot him because he wanted to die. Another statement by his wife indicated that she told “law enforcement” to watch him closely because he might “finish what he started”. It is unknown to which officers she told that to, it could have been Sheriff’s Deputies or perhaps Detention Center guards or personnel. That part is unclear.

Because of these statements, Detention Center officials took away all of his clothes except for his underwear and socks. However, sometime between 5:10 A.M. and 6:00 A.M. Ellis hung himself with those same items. The State Medical Examiner’s report indicated just that. Ellis died from hanging himself and it was ruled as a suicide.

How could this happen? By they time he was booked into the Detention Center, it must have been obvious to all that Ellis was in a heightened state of mental distress, so much so that he was relieved of most of his clothing. So why didn’t the Detention Center personnel pay closer attention to him. Checking on him once in a while seems a little cavalier considering Ellis’ mental state.

The State Medical Examiners report indicates that Ellis had “diasepam” in his blood (an anti-anxiety and sedative medication) along with alcohol. Of course, Deputies and Detention personnel were not aware of the diasepam, but may have smelled the alcohol on his breath, or not. Even so, his mental state warranted closer observation.

As modern as the County Detention Center is, one would think that TV monitoring would be available, or a special holding cell for just these kinds of circumstances.

In my experience working with Police and Sheriff’s departments in Arizona, TV monitoring was always available. It’s not expensive and it works.

Now, I am not saying that there was anything criminal with Ellis’ handling during and after his apprehension, but what I am saying is that there was a definate lack of care by the Baxter County Detention Center personnel. Once a person is in custody at their facility, that person is ‘the responsibility’ of the County.

What I am saying is that there needs to be a further investigation into Scott Ellis’ suicide. More should be known about who did what, when they did it, and above all, why there was only limited attention paid to a man who was obviously in serious mental distress.

Scott Ellis should have been transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center for care. There they would have found the anti-anxiety medication and alcohol in his blood. Scott Ellis may still be alive today if someone had been more on the ball.

I call on Judge Bodenhamer and Sheriff Montgomery to request an independent investigation into this tragedy. Even though the State Crime Lab was involved and the case has been closed, changes need to be made. Scott Ellis definately had problems, but all life is valuable and should be treated as such.

TLO VideoCast for June 20, 2009

06-20-2009

Program Notes For This Week (June 20, 2009):

TLO VideoCast for June 13, 2009

06-13-2009

Program for June 13, 2009

Storm damages airport building

06-11-2009

Click Photos For Enlargement
Last nights thunder storms did more than keep the residents of the Twin Lakes area awake and scare their pets, the storms also damaged a building at the Ozark Regional Airport in Midway.

According to the airport manager, straight line winds were responsible for the damage to a building housing a fire truck and some other vehicles, not a tornado or lightning strike.

Straight line winds are winds that precede an actual thunder storm by just a few minutes.

From the photos you can see the damage. The first photo shows the north wall of the Fire Department building blown outward with the debris laying on the grass. In the second photo you can see the door actually blown inward. It would appear that the winds first blew the door inward and the force of the wind then blew the wall out.

Currently, we have not heard of any reports of personal injury or damage to other buildings and/or aircraft. We’ll keep you updated if there are further reports of damage.