An Arizona man is accused of holding nearly a dozen National Guard members at gunpoint as they were transporting COVID-19 vaccines.
Larry Harris, 66, followed three National Guard vans before he tried running their vehicles off the road multiple times in West Texas, police said. He allegedly turned his vehicle into oncoming traffic, getting the vans to stop, before he pointed a gun at the 11 unarmed soldiers.
Harris allegedly identified himself as a detective, demanded he be allowed to search the vehicles, and he ordered the rest of the soldiers out of their vans at gunpoint.
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Police took him into custody without further incident. He was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint of 11 National Guard soldiers, unlawful carrying of a weapon, impersonating a public servant, and interference with Texas Military Forces, according to WAFB9.
No one was hurt in the incident.
“Mr. Harris appeared to be mentally disturbed,” said Eric Williams, Idalou police chief. “This was a very dangerous situation since the suspect was standing in the midst of the unarmed Guardsman with a loaded weapon when the Idalou officers arrived on scene. We are grateful that the officers were able to take him into custody without any of the Guardsmen, the officers, or the suspect getting hurt.”
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Harris told police he thought the people in the vans had kidnapped a woman and a child, even though each of the National Guard members were in uniform. He was in possession of a pistol, and he had an additional loaded magazine on his person and another in his truck, according to law enforcement.
