Registered Sex Offender Arrested After Gassville Park Incident

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A 28-year-old Yellville man named Jeremiah Wayne Selfridge was arrested on Monday and charged with felony counts of entering a public park as a registered sex offender and battery on a law enforcement officer, along with misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault and impairing operations of a vital public facility. The charges stem from an incident on March 3 where Selfridge was found in a vehicle parked after hours at Lancaster City Park in Gassville, Arkansas.

Why it matters

As a registered Level 3 sex offender, Selfridge is prohibited by Arkansas law from entering public parks. His alleged presence in the park raises concerns about public safety and the enforcement of laws governing registered sex offenders in the state.

The details

According to the Baxter County Sheriff's Office, a Gassville police officer discovered Selfridge's vehicle parked inside the park after hours around 12:40 a.m. on March 3. Selfridge told the officer the group had stopped because the vehicle had overheated, but body camera footage showed the hood was closed when the officer first approached. Authorities say Selfridge's presence in the park led to the charges being filed and a warrant issued for his arrest.

• On March 3, Selfridge was found in a vehicle parked after hours at Lancaster City Park in Gassville.
• On Monday, March 18, Selfridge was arrested on the warrant and booked into the Baxter County Detention Center.

What’s next

Selfridge is scheduled to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court on March 30.