Man Accused of Pressuring Witness to Drop Charges, Telling Him to ‘Shoot It Out’

JONESBORO, Ark. — Charles Edward Beare faces a Class B felony after police said he tried to pressure a witness into dropping charges against his brother and told the man to come around a corner to “shoot it out.”

Beare is charged with intimidating a witness. District Judge David Boling found probable cause Monday and set his bond at $50,000 cash or surety.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Jonesboro police responded Aug. 22 to a disturbance at Garden Manor. The alleged victim told officers that several people, including Beare, had arrived at his residence and threatened him.

The victim said Beare’s brother had recently been arrested on allegations that he stole the victim’s firearm. Following that arrest, Beare allegedly went to the victim’s apartment and asked, “What we doing, bro? You gone drop the charges or not?”

The conversation escalated, according to the affidavit, and Beare allegedly told the victim to come around the corner to “shoot it out.” The victim told police he did not know whether Beare was armed.

Officers later located Beare on David Cove and reported seeing the vehicles described by the victim. Beare acknowledged speaking with the victim but said the conversation concerned a different incident, according to the affidavit.

Police arrested Beare and transported him to the Craighead County Detention Center.

The bond order noted that Beare had been arrested Aug. 19 on firearm-possession charges and was on probation. His next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30.

Intimidating a witness is punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.