Baxter County Sheriff’s Office reports an annonymous tip from a citizen received through it’s Facebook page resulted in the filing of charges against three persons for vandalizing the R.M. Ruthven Bridge across the White River at Cotter. The bridge restored in 2002/2003 was added to the National Historic Register of Historic Places in 1990, named after Baxter County Judge R.M. Ruthven.
The message sent via Facebook to the Sheriff notified authorities of the vandalism and included pictures of the incident taken from the suspect’s personal Facebook page.
Baxter County Sheriff’s Office and Cotter Police Department initiated a joint investigation which developed a total of 3 suspects, two of whom were interviewed and told investigators they had found the spray paint and painted the bridge including writing their names. The third suspect was implicated as the person who took the photos.
Two men identified as 20 year old Bruce Guist and 19 year old Levi Miller both of rural Mountain Home have been charged with criminal mischief 2nd degree, a class B misdemeanor. Both will appear in Baxter County District Court and the Cotter Department on the charges.
