Fugitive arrested at scene when search warrant was served

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A woman was arrested and a warrant was issued for a man following the service of a search warrant at a residence on Farm Road 1142 in the Star City area las week.

Andrew Edie, 46, of Cassville, is charged with four counts of stealing $750 or more, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Cindy Beck, 41, of Purdy, was arrested on the scene for nine failure to appear warrants.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Jeremy Berner, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, on March 26, deputies began an investigation into the alleged theft of 300 feet of fiberoptic wire, valued at $4,000, which was allegedly stolen from the area of Highway YY and Farm Road 1260 in Shell Knob.

On April 1, a report of the theft of approximately 150 feet of fiberoptic wire, valued at $8,000, was allegedly stolen from the area of 22562 Farm Road 1262 in Shell Knob.

On April 3, a report of the theft of approximately 350 feet of fiberoptic wire, valued at $8,000, was allegedly stolen from the area of 22562 Farm Road 1262 in Shell Knob. Berner said the wire allegedly stolen was what had been used to replace the wire stolen in the April 1 theft.

On April 17, approximately 300 feet of fiberoptic wire, valued at $10,000, was allegedly stolen from the intersection of Highway E and Farm Road 2253 in Eagle Rock.

While investigating the alleged thefts, Berner said he located a possible suspect identified as Edie in a vehicle scrapping 442 pounds of copper matching the copper that had allegedly been stolen from Neosho Metal Recycling on April 13.

Berner said Edie used his Missouri ID card hen scrapping the copper, which gave him the ability to retain information on Edie’s license plate. That was passed onto patrol to be on the lookout for the vehicle as a suspect in the alleged thefts.

On April 18, Barry County Deputy Ray Clevenger made contact with the vehicle at a traffic stop in Golden. During the stop, the male driver allegedly fled on foot, and the passenger, who was the registered owner of the vehicle, allegedly identified Edie as the driver. The vehicle was inventoried and towed, and the passenger was arrested on a 12-hour hold.

On April 19, the passenger, whose name is being withheld due to no charges being filed, was interviewed at the Sheriff’s office and said she had been driving Edie to the locations to steal the wire. The passenger showed investigators on a map the locations she had driven Edie and dropped him off to commit the alleged thefts. Those locations matched the locations reported to the Sheriff’s Office, Berner said.

The total value of the wire stolen in the four cases is $32,000.

According to a Sheriff’s Office press release, on April 29, deputies served a search warrant at a residence on Farm Road 1142 in the Star City area, and during a search of the property, evidence of burnt fiber copper was allegedly located.

Upon making entry into the residence, a female occupant, identified as Beck, allegedly fled on foot and was apprehended. The release said Beck has several warrants and has been evading law enforcement since 2023.

Beck is being held in the Barry County jail on bonds totaling $22,133.50. A arrant has been issued for Edie’s arrest, and anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 417-847-6556.

According to Berner’s statement, Edie has a history of fleeing and has failed to appear at court hearings in Benton County, Ark., in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. He also has warrants in Texas, Indiana and Missouri.