Arizona man charged with holding up National Guard convoy at gunpoint in Texas
03/23/2021 12:38 pm PDT
LUBBOCK COUNTY, Texas (TCD) --
An Arizona man was arrested Monday after allegedly holding up a National Guard convoy of vans carrying COVID-19 vaccine doses in Texas.
Wilcox, Arizona resident Larry Lee Harris, 66, allegedly followed three vans carrying National Guard soldiers transporting the vaccine en route to Matador, Texas, on Monday, according to KXAN-TV.
“Mr. Harris had followed the National Guard Soldiers from Love’s Travel Station on East Regis Street to Highway 62/82 & County Road 3600,” according to a statement from Idalou Police Chief Eric Williams. “Harris attempted multiple times to run the vans … off the road.”
Eleven National Guard soldiers were in the three vans.
Harris allegedly turned his vehicle into oncoming traffic and stopped the three National Guard vans, police said.
“Harris pointed a gun at a National Guard Soldier, identified himself as a detective, and demanded to search the vehicles,” the statement said.
Harris allegedly ordered all 11 soldiers to exit the vans so he could search them, police said. He was reportedly carrying a .45-caliber handgun.
Harris told police he thought “the people in the vans had kidnapped a woman and child,” the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Idalou Police officers and Lubbock County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, and Harris was arrested without incident, according to reports.
Harris had an extra loaded pistol magazine on his person, and a third in his truck, according to police.
No injuries were reported.
Larry Lee Harris was booked at the Lubbock County Jail on charges of aggravated assault; impersonating a public servant; unlawful restraint; unlawful carrying of a weapon; and interference with military forces.
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