Inmate Who Walked Off Work Detail Captured

The jail inmate who walked off from a McDonald County work detail on Jan. 3 was caught three days later north of Seneca.

Deputies were looking for Virgil Jay Potarf, 42, according to information from McDonald Sheriff Michael Hall. Potarf walked away from the detention center at approximately 7 p.m. Hall said Potarf has a history of alcohol and drug use and of assaults.

On Jan. 5, Hall announced Potarf has been seen in the Neosho and Seneca areas over the previous 24 hours.

“We believe that he is still in the McDonald/Newton County area,” Hall wrote in an email. “Potarf was last seen with an unknown female and another female named Kacy Jordan (29 years old) from the Goodman area. Jordan has felony warrants out of Benton County, Arkansas, for failed to appear warrants for drugs and obstruction of government operations.”

They were seen together in the Neosho area in a (mid 2000’s) Silver Ford Taurus with Oklahoma tags, Hall reported.

The next day, after pursuing leads and tips, and after several sightings, deputies apprehended Potarf at approximately 6:30 p.m. at a residence north of Seneca.