On Friday October 8, Izard County Deputies received information that Derrick Hicks, age 40 of Batesville, was in the Melbourne area. Hicks was a parole absconder as well as having felony failure to appear warrants out of Jackson County on the original charges of possession of methamphetamine. He also had a failure to appear warrant out of Independence County on the original charges of theft, forgery, fleeing, and violation of a protection order.
At approximately 3:55 p.m., Chief Deputy Charley Melton and Sheriff Jack Yancey spotted the vehicle that Hicks was reported driving. The vehicle was leaving a business in Melbourne. Chief Melton and Sheriff Yancey attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle on Hwy 69. The vehicle turned onto North Spring Street and accelerated. The vehicle then turned and went through a yard and traveled to Lunen Street and traveled back toward Hwy 69. The vehicle then turned and went behind Izard County Abstract. The vehicle then drove into the ditch on Hwy 9 near the intersection of Hwy 9 and Hwy 69.
Hicks exited the vehicle and ran across the road into the parking lot of Meadows Chevrolet where he was apprehended by deputies. Amanda Hanna (Hicks), age 32 of Batesville, was a passenger in the vehicle. She had a warrant for being a parole absconder out of Independence County.
Both were taken into custody and transported to other jurisdictions.