Three individuals were taken into custody Thursday evening after a search conducted by the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, which included the use of a drone equipped with night vision capabilities to locate one of the suspects.
According to the sheriff's office, authorities received information about the location of two individuals wanted by Arkansas Probation and Parole. Deputies arrived at a residence on County Road 116, just outside of Corning, at approximately 5:25 p.m. Upon announcing their presence at the front and back doors multiple times without a response, deputies entered the home under the authority of search waivers already on file for the individuals in question.
Once inside, deputies found 50-year-old Colin Curtis and 64-year-old Chrystal Householder, both of Corning, who were wanted individuals with search waivers on record. During a search of the residence, deputies uncovered illegal drug-related items along with the belongings of a third individual believed to also be at the location.
Deputies deployed a drone with night vision to assist in locating the third subject. Within minutes, the drone operator spotted 52-year-old Jeremy Cox lying in a nearby field. The drone operator guided deputies to Cox's location, where he was taken into custody without further incident.
All three individuals were transported to the Clay County Detention Center and are now facing multiple drug-related charges. Curtis and Householder were charged with possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance weighing less than 2 grams, possession of Schedule VI controlled substances weighing less than 4 ounces, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both also face charges for hindering apprehension or prosecution by harboring or concealing a wanted individual. Cox faces the same drug-related charges, with an additional charge of fleeing.
Sheriff Ronnie Cole credited the use of drone technology for the successful apprehension of the fleeing suspect. The investigation is ongoing.