A rural Gassville man was arrested Tuesday night following a domestic disturbance involving threats to multiple people, including his wife, and illegal possession of firearms. Authorities have filed 16 charges against 38-year-old Dale Gene Dickerson in connection with the incident.
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to an active domestic violence call made by a minor from the residence. While en route, officers were informed that a physical altercation was ongoing. Upon arrival, deputies learned that Dickerson had allegedly been involved in a physical struggle with his wife both inside the home and in the front yard.
Witnesses, including Dickerson’s father-in-law who lives in a camper on the property, reported that Dickerson entered the camper to search for firearms he had stored there. The father-in-law distracted Dickerson, during which time one of three juveniles at the residence moved the guns to a truck. Additional firearms were removed from the main residence and placed in another vehicle belonging to a second man.
At one point, Dickerson reportedly attempted to access the truck, threatening, “I’m going to kill you if you don’t give me my guns!” He then allegedly ripped the door handles off the truck during the altercation. Witnesses also stated Dickerson had his wife by the throat and shoved her to the ground while telling her, “I’m going to kill you!”
Authorities recovered six pistols and two rifles belonging to Dickerson from one of the vehicles. Dickerson admitted to deputies that he purchased the firearms before becoming a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Dickerson is prohibited from owning firearms under Arkansas law.
Dickerson faces eight felony counts of possession of firearms by certain persons. He is also charged with one count of second-degree criminal mischief, four counts of second-degree assault on a family or household member, and three counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, all misdemeanors.
Court records reveal that Dickerson has a criminal history involving prior felony convictions. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to third-degree battery in Craighead County as part of a plea deal in which a residential burglary charge was dropped. He received a one-year probation sentence. Last year, he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer in Mississippi County and was sentenced to two years of supervised probation after other charges, including resisting arrest and terroristic threatening, were dropped as part of another plea agreement.