Baxter County, AR. – 44-year-old Midway resident Kenneth Ward was arrested and charged with 3 counts of false imprisonment and risk of injury-1st degree, 3 counts of aggravated assault on a family or household member, 2 counts of endangering the welfare of a minor-1st degree, possessing a controlled substance, possessing drug paraphernalia, and domestic battery-3rd degree after he held his girlfriend and two children captive with a machete.
According to the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, three deputies and two Arkansas State Police troopers were dispatched to a residence near the Baxter County Airport on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, after receiving a call from a female that she and her children were being held against their will in their house with a machete. When deputies arrived on the scene, both the woman and her children had escaped into the driveway. Deputies commanded Ward to exit the house and when he did not respond they entered the house and arrested him.
During an interview with the victim, she told them that the incident had started when she told Ward she would have to run to the store to get milk for their 10-month-old baby. He allegedly hit her in the head with his cell phone and then again with the baby’s playpen. Ward then brought out a machete and refused to let anyone leave the house. Her eight-year-old son told deputies that Ward was holding the machete and kept stating, “If you leave, I’m going to slit your throats.” Deputies stated that the victim had burn marks on her from previous disputes that she did not contact the police for. The victim also advised the police that both Ward and herself are felons with search warrants on file. She also told the deputies that they could find drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Deputies were unable to find the machete but did discover a glass pipe for smoking methamphetamine, needles, used needles, a bag with white residue, and a grinding device.
Ward is now being held on bonds totaling $25,000.
