A Baxter County inmate charged with arson and cruelty to animals has been accused of assaulting jail staff in two separate incidents at the Baxter County Detention Center.
Bradley Marcus Hanes, 36, appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court on October 12 and pleaded not guilty to second-degree battery on a jail employee and impairing the operations of a vital public facility. The most recent allegation stems from a September 27 incident, while an earlier disturbance occurred on August 22.
According to court documents, during the September 27 incident, Hanes caused a disturbance while jail staff were processing a new inmate. After being placed in a restraint chair, Hanes allegedly urinated on the floor through the "bean hole" used to deliver food trays. When a jailer entered the cell to check on Hanes and assess whether he needed medical assistance, Hanes began making aggressive remarks and spit a combination of blood and phlegm on the officer, the affidavit states.
The earlier August 22 incident reportedly began when Hanes yelled and kicked the door of his detox cell. Jail staff discovered he had self-inflicted injuries and placed him in a restraint chair for his safety. As staff worked to secure him, Hanes allegedly kicked a jailer in the mouth. A stun gun was used to help restrain him, according to the affidavit.
Hanes now faces charges of arson, cruelty to animals, first-degree criminal mischief, two counts of battery on a police officer, and two counts of impairing the operations of a vital public facility. He has been in custody since December 30, 2023, after being arrested for setting fire to the house in which he was living, killing his housemate's pet cat in the process. Investigators alleged the fire was intentionally set during a dispute over his eviction.
Court documents report that Hanes admitted to killing the cat out of frustration with his housemate but requested an attorney when questioned about the fire. The blaze destroyed the residence, causing an estimated $35,000–$40,000 in damages, and one of the housemate’s pets was discovered dead inside a trash bag during post-fire cleanup. A second cat was found alive in a clothes dryer.
The case has been delayed because of multiple psychological evaluations ordered by the court. Hanes was found competent to stand trial in two prior evaluations, with the results of a third evaluation pending. In an August 4 letter to the court, Hanes claimed he was not receiving adequate mental health care and said, "I am worse now than when I was incarcerated."
Hanes remains in custody on more than $80,000 bond.