An Arizona man was arrested after allegedly holding 11 National Guard soldiers at gunpoint. The troops were transporting COVID-19 vaccines to west Texas Monday morning, police officials told.
Arizona man, Larry Lee Harris held at gunpoint 11 National Guard soldiers
According to a statement from Idalou Police Chief Eric C. Williams, Larry Lee Harris, aged 66, from Arizona, followed a caravan of three vans with 11 National Guard soldiers. They were transporting coronavirus vaccines to Matador.
The suspect reportedly followed the vans from Love’s Travel Station to Highway 62/82 & Country Road 3600. He tried several times to run the vans off the road and finally turned into oncoming traffic. The police told that he stopped the vans and pointed a gun at the unarmed National Guard soldiers. Harris claimed he was a detective. And he asked to search the vans.
He possessed a loaded Colt 1911 pistol and a loaded magazine, Idalou Police Department officials said. Also, Harris had another loaded magazine in his vehicle. However, none of the Guardsmen had an injury during the incident.
According to the Police statement, as they arrested Harris, he told them he thought the people in the vans had kidnapped a woman and child.
This was a very dangerous situation
“Mr. Harris appeared to be mentally disturbed. This was a very dangerous situation since the suspect was standing in the midst of the unarmed Guardsman with a loaded weapon then the Idalou officers arrived on the scene,” Williams said.
“We are grateful that the officers were able to take him into custody without any of the Guardsmen, the officers, or the suspect hurt.”
The police took Harris to the Lubbock County Detention Center for charges of intense assault with a lethal weapon and illicit restraint. He also faced charges over carrying a weapon illegally, pretending to be a detective, and messing with Texas military forces.
The Idalou Police Department was probing into the incident. Whereas, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office cooperated in the investigation.
