(Update, 5:00 p.m.)
LITTLE ROCK, AR (News release) - John T. Kolata, 75, of Searcy County is hospitalized at a Little Rock hospital along with a Searcy County Sheriff’s Deputy. Both were wounded during an exchange of gunfire inside the Serenity Farm Bread store located in Leslie earlier today.
The store is located at U.S. Highway 65 approximately one quarter mile south of State Highway 66. About 11:15 AM Searcy County sheriff’s department deputies and a State Trooper responded to the store following reports of an armed man holding two hostages inside the store.
Kolata reportedly began shooting as a deputy entered the store. The deputy and a State Trooper returned fire striking Kolata.
The wound to the deputy is not believed to be life threatening. Kolata was in surgery at UAMS late this afternoon.
The State Trooper was not injured.
State Police Special Agents are leading the criminal investigation which will be submitted to the local prosecuting attorney for review.
Questions relating to the administrative status or identification of the Searcy County Deputy should be directed to the sheriff’s department.
The Arkansas State Police Office of Professional Standards is reviewing the shooting incident and in accordance with State Police policy the State Trooper is on paid administrative leave. The name of the State Trooper will be released following an initial assessment of the OPS review.
(Update):
LESLIE, AR - The deputy who was shot in the Friday morning incident was Searcy County Deputy Lang Holland. His injuries are described as non-life threatening.
(Original Story):
LESLIE, AR - A law enforcement officer has been flown from the scene in Searcy County after being shot by an armed man.
LITTLE ROCK, AR (News release) - John T. Kolata, 75, of Searcy County is hospitalized at a Little Rock hospital along with a Searcy County Sheriff’s Deputy. Both were wounded during an exchange of gunfire inside the Serenity Farm Bread store located in Leslie earlier today.
The store is located at U.S. Highway 65 approximately one quarter mile south of State Highway 66. About 11:15 AM Searcy County sheriff’s department deputies and a State Trooper responded to the store following reports of an armed man holding two hostages inside the store.
Kolata reportedly began shooting as a deputy entered the store. The deputy and a State Trooper returned fire striking Kolata.
The wound to the deputy is not believed to be life threatening. Kolata was in surgery at UAMS late this afternoon.
The State Trooper was not injured.
State Police Special Agents are leading the criminal investigation which will be submitted to the local prosecuting attorney for review.
Questions relating to the administrative status or identification of the Searcy County Deputy should be directed to the sheriff’s department.
The Arkansas State Police Office of Professional Standards is reviewing the shooting incident and in accordance with State Police policy the State Trooper is on paid administrative leave. The name of the State Trooper will be released following an initial assessment of the OPS review.
(Update):
LESLIE, AR - The deputy who was shot in the Friday morning incident was Searcy County Deputy Lang Holland. His injuries are described as non-life threatening.
(Original Story):
LESLIE, AR - A law enforcement officer has been flown from the scene in Searcy County after being shot by an armed man.
The incident happened shortly after 11 a.m. Friday at a bakery in Leslie.
The injured officer is identified only as a deputy and it's not yet known with which agency he is employed.
The Arkansas State Police (ASP) says the officer's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The ASP at first said the armed man was shot and killed, but later stated he had been wounded. He was also airlifted from the scene, the ASP said via a news release a short time after the incident was first reported.
State troopers responded to the scene in what was at first a standoff/hostage situation with the gunman.
A person who answered the phone at the Serenity Farm Bread told us the suspect was known to them and had been in the business before. He was reportedly upset about the way he had been treated.
They say he was armed with a pistol and fired it when authorities arrived on the scene.
Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation will conduct an investigation of the incident.
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