Woman who almost ran down deputy pleads guilty to drug charges

A woman listing a Norfork address appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court/Criminal Division Monday (July 21) where she pled guilty to a number of drug-related charges.
Forty-year-old Ashley Garris was sentenced to six years in prison.

According to court records, 10 criminal cases have been opened on Garris/AKA Ashley Tharp since 2008. Charges against her have included forgery, theft of property, drug possession, trafficking drugs, and obstructing governmental operations.

All of the cases up to 2021 were opened in the name Ashley Tharp. In cases from 2021 the name Ashley Garris is used.

She has been put on probation and spent time in prison.

FENTANYL FOUND

In the most recent case Garris was arrested in mid-May after Baxter County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call that a female appeared to be sleeping or passed out in a vehicle parked at a business located along Highway 201 South.

A deputy was able to wake the female by knocking on the window but she refused to unlock or open the door.

After a computer check, it was determined that Garris had an outstanding warrant. When she was informed of the warrant and asked to exit her vehicle, Garris started the vehicle, described as a gray Jeep Renegade. She is reported to have driven through a ditch and to have thrown rocks as she attempted to get away. A deputy standing at the front corner of the jeep had to jump back to keep from being hit as Garris fled the scene.

The two deputies pursued Garris’ vehicle for a short distance. She turned into a driveway and then turned into a creek. After the jeep stopped, Garris fled on foot and was not apprehended at the scene.

She was arrested while attending a session of Baxter County Circuit Court June 23.

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