A Fulton County man is in custody at the Baxter County Detention Center in Mountain Home following a string of vehicle break-ins reported Sunday morning.
Tyler Joe Wheeler, 36, of Salem, was arrested after police responded to reports of a suspect targeting vehicles near an apartment complex on Cardinal Drive. According to the Mountain Home Police Department, Wheeler fled on foot upon their arrival, running through a creek toward a nearby mobile home park. Officers deployed a Taser to subdue him and took him into custody shortly after.
Police returned to the scene on Cardinal Drive and located multiple piles of miscellaneous property. Seven vehicles were determined to have been broken into, with victims reporting stolen items that included a firearm, tools, and personal belongings.
Wheeler has been charged with seven felony counts of breaking or entering and one felony count of theft of property. He additionally faces misdemeanor charges for criminal mischief and fleeing. Due to his prior felony convictions, he is also subject to a penalty enhancement for being a habitual offender.
Wheeler’s bond is set at $50,000, with an additional $1,385 for unrelated charges stemming from a parole violation and unpaid fines.
This arrest marks Wheeler's 18th felony charge since 2012. Records show his initial arrest occurred in Fulton County, with the other 16 cases prosecuted in Baxter County. His criminal history includes theft and drug-related offenses, alongside previous sentences in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, the Baxter County Detention Center, and terms of probation.