A brief vehicle pursuit late Sunday evening, March 30th, has resulted in the arrest of a Marion County man on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.
At approximately 11:12 PM Sunday, Sheriff’s Corporal Austin Morrison was patrolling in the area State Highway 126 N when he observed a motorcycle going South bound at 21 miles per hour over the speed limit. Corporal Morrison attempted to overtake the motorcycle to conduct a stop for the speeding violation. The operator of the motorcycle refused to stop and continued heading South on State Highway 126, accelerating to high speeds and driving erratically. Corporal Morrison continued pursuing the motorcycle to Gassville, where the operator wrecked out just inside the Gassville city limits at 11:15 PM. Corporal Morrison took the operator into custody. He was identified as 27-year-old Joseph Michael Verdusco of Yellville. Verdusco was not injured.
During a subsequent search of Verdusco, deputies found approximately 4.12 grams of methamphetamine, several hundred dollars in cash, and drug paraphernalia. Verdusco was also found to be a parolee with outstanding arrest warrants for failure to appear in court in Marion County and White County.
Verdusco was transported to the Baxter County Detention Center where he has been booked on charges of:
Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose of Delivery – Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts) – Felonies
Fleeing by Vehicle – Felony
Reckless Driving – Misdemeanor
Speeding – Misdemeanor
No Liability Insurance – Misdemeanor
No Motorcycle License – Misdemeanor
Expired Vehicle License – Misdemeanor
Habitual Offender – Penalty Enhancement
Failure to Appear Warrants – Marion County and White County
Parole Violation – Felony
Verdusco has a bond of $15,000 on the new charges, but is being held without bond on the parole violation and the fail to appear warrants. He will appear before the Baxter County Circuit Court to answer on June 3rd.
