Man facing felony charge for filing false report
The arrest arose from a chase that occurred in March.
Bobby Coffman, 36, turned himself in at the Bella Vista Police Department June 7 on a felony warrant for filing a false police report, fleeing and reckless driving.
Detective Mike Kugler said that filing a false police report and fleeing are class D felony charges, while reckless driving is a class D misdemeanor.
According to the narrative included in the affidavit of probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant, two officers were sitting at the intersection of Pulham
Drive and Wellington
Road at 9:44 p.m. March 4 when they saw Coffman’s white Ford pickup truck slide across the road and nearly collide with their parked squad car.
The officers were able to see the driver, whom they described as a white male in his 30s and wearing a camouflage jacket, according to the narrative.
Once the lights and sirens went on, according to the narrative, the truck accelerated along Wellington Road and, during the pursuit, crossed the double yellow line to pass two cars.
The pursuit ended when the truck went off the road near the intersection of Wellington Road and Hampstead Road, according to the narrative. The truck reportedly struck a guardrail and stopped against a tree roughly 100 feet off the road.
When officers arrived on foot, according to the narrative, the truck was empty.
The following morning, Coffman reportedly came into the Bella Vista Police Department to file a report, alleging that he was assaulted and his truck — which was involved in the previous night’s pursuit — was stolen by two Hispanic individuals with a firearm.
After several questions, officers informed Coffman that he could be arrested for filing a false police report, according to the narrative, and he affirmed he was telling the truth.
A warrant for his arrest was issued March 22.
Kugler said Coffman’s court date is scheduled July 17 at Benton County Circuit Court division 1 in Bentonville.
“We knew” it was him, Kugler said. “Our officer could visually identify him, we’re happy with the outcome.”