Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Negotiation/Arrest on Loop 245

On 9-7-06 at approximately 9:30pm Texarkana Arkansas Police officers responded to the 400 block of Hwy 245 near South State Line, in reference to a male subject who had climbed onto the top of a road sign.

Once on scene officers discovered that the suspect, Wayde Land (w/m/22y.o.a. Texarkana, TX), had climbed the support post of a traffic sign which spanned across the highway. Land had positioned himself directly over the top of the northbound traffic lanes, and he was sitting in the center of the sign railing and could not be reached from any direction. Initially the suspect refused to speak to officers and it was during this time that police became fearful that Land might jump into traffic.

Traffic was diverted off of Hwy 245 and negotiators were called to the scene to speak with the suspect. Land became increasingly upset with police and on several occasions demanded that all law enforcement and fire officials leave the scene. Negotiations continued for approximately 2 hours.

At approximately 11:45pm the suspect agreed to come down if officers would back away from the sign posts, at which point officers moved several marked patrol units away from the area.

The suspect climbed down and after a brief attempt to flee the scene on foot he was arrested and taken into custody after a brief struggle with officers. The suspect has been charged with Drunken, Insane, and Disorderly Person under Arkansas Statute 12-11-110. This is a misdemeanor charge. The suspect will be held in jail until a mental evaluation can be completed.

For reference, the statute reads as follows:

(a) It shall be the duty of all peace officers to arrest any insane or drunken person, whom they may find at large and not in the care of some discreet person, and take him before some magistrate of the county, city, or town in which the arrest is made.

(c) If the arrests authorized in subsections (a) and (b) of this section are made during the night, the officer shall keep those arrested in confinement until the next morning. This shall be done unless, in the case of an insane or drunken person, the officer may deliver him into the custody of some discreet person who will undertake to restrain and take care of him. If the arrests are made in the local jurisdiction of a police or city court, the person arrested shall be taken before the judge of such court unless he is absent. d)(1) Upon a drunken person being brought before a magistrate, the magistrate shall have the power to order the person to be confined until he becomes sober.

(2) Upon a disorderly person being brought before him, the magistrate may require of him surety for his good behavior, and for keeping the peace for a period not exceeding one (1) year. On the failure of the disorderly person to give such security, the magistrate may commit him until he gives security, but in no event is the confinement to exceed thirty (30) days.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.