Judge Doubles Bond for Man Accused of Tracking Woman to Shelter

Affidavit Alleges Tracking Device Found on Woman’s Vehicle

JONESBORO, Ark. — A judge doubled the planned bond for a man accused of tracking a woman to a Jonesboro shelter after the man repeatedly spoke over the judge and continued arguing during his first court appearance.

Michael Christopher Pate was arrested Sunday, July 12, after officers responded to a suspicious-person call at a local women’s shelter, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Police were told a man driving a white Toyota Tacoma might be attempting to contact a woman staying at the shelter. Officers found Pate standing between the Tacoma and a red Ford Mustang in the parking lot.

Pate told police he was working on the Mustang at his wife’s request, the affidavit said. Officers initially left but returned while attempting to determine whether a no-contact order or order of protection prohibited Pate from being near the woman.

When officers attempted to detain Pate, he allegedly pulled away and refused to place his hands into handcuffs. Police said two officers were eventually able to restrain him.

After Pate was handcuffed, an officer allegedly saw him reaching inside the front of his pants. Police searched Pate and reported finding a glass pipe containing suspected methamphetamine residue.

Officers placed the pipe on the hood of a patrol vehicle. Pate then allegedly attempted to blow the pipe off the hood before an officer stopped him by placing a foot over it.

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A Jonesboro police K-9 alerted on Pate’s Tacoma, according to the affidavit. During a subsequent search, officers reported finding a clear plastic bag containing approximately 2.75 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

Pate was taken to a Jonesboro hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Craighead County Detention Center.

Police later spoke with the woman, who said she had been attempting to get away from Pate and accused him of placing a tracking device on her vehicle. An investigator was shown the tracking device attached to the vehicle, according to the affidavit.

The Jonesboro Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit is continuing to investigate a possible harassment charge.

During Pate’s court appearance on Monday, he disputed the circumstances surrounding the case and said the woman contacted him about a problem with her vehicle. Pate said she asked whether he was “going to be a [POS]” or whether he would help with the vehicle. He maintained there was not a “stay away order in place” and said he was “well within his rights to speak with her.”

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Pate continued speaking over District Judge David Boling as the judge attempted to determine whether the woman was the same alleged victim involved in a previous case. Boling indicated that the answer could affect the amount of Pate’s bond.

When Pate asked to continue speaking, Boling firmly but politely told him no, and passed him so that the court could research more on his previous cases.

It appeared to the court that three other previous protective orders had been issued against Pate. Pate disputed one of the protective orders and said he was not aware of who that specific defendant was.

NEA Report reviewed those court records, which show a protective order against a “Michael Pate” in Saline County involving that specific defendant. However, after a closer look, court records show it to be “Michael Edward Pate.”

Pate also argued that he was not fighting with the police during his arrest.

“This time, I wasn’t resisting,” Pate told the court. “I fell 20 feet off a ladder. I’m crippled. I just can’t bend that far.”

Despite his pleas, the judge seemed concerned by Pate confirming there were at least two protective orders against him. Boling said Pate had talked himself into a higher bond and set it at $150,000 — twice the amount requested by the prosecutor.

Pate faces possession of between 2 and 10 grams of methamphetamine or cocaine, a Class C felony; possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence, both Class D felonies; and resisting arrest, a Class B misdemeanor.