An Independence County man is wanted by authorities for entering a home and severely injuring another man.
Sheriff Shawn Stephens said Derek Dwayne Tharp (pictured above from a previous booking image), 28, is the wanted man.
Stephens said, in addition to this incident, Tharp also has two additional warrants for his arrest — violating sex offender registration requirements and misdemeanor failure to appear in court. (Click here for information on an incident involving Tharp late last year.)
In the incident report, Deputy Jordan Harder said he was called to a Cushman residence early this morning where a man said he had been awakened by his brother’s shouts of help from a bedroom. The man said he found his brother lying on the room’s floor with a man identified as Tharp standing over the victim, who appeared to be severely injured and was unconscious. When the victim’s brother entered the room, the suspect fled. The report also said Tharp apparently entered the residence through an unlocked front door.
The brother and an uncle who was at the residence transported the victim to White River Medical Center.
Deputy Harder said the victim was still unconscious when he arrived at the medical center, and he sustained injuries, mainly to the head and face area, by a linear-type blunt object, such as a club or baton.
Deputy Harder and Deputy Thomas went to a residence on North First Street in Cushman in an attempt to locate Derek Tharp. Harder said no contact was made.
As of this morning, Stephens said he had not received an updated medical report on the victim. He also noted that his department’s investigation should provide a cause of the altercation.
Sheriff Stephens said if anyone knows the whereabouts of Derek Tharp, or has seen him, inform the Independence County Sheriff’s Department. Their phone number is (870) 793-8838.
File image
Get up-to-date local and regional news along with the latest sports and weather every weekday morning by listening to Gary B. on Ozark Newsline, broadcast from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and 99.5 Hits Now. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Add don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
