IDALOU, Texas – An Arizona man has been arrested after he cut off a National Guard caravan transporting COVID-19 vaccines to Matador, Texas, and held 11 unarmed guardsmen at gunpoint Monday morning, police said.
Larry Lee Harris, 66, of Wilcox is charged with 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 in the west Texas attack, KCBD reported.
According to a statement issued by Idalou Chief of Police Eric C. Williams, Harris followed three vans carrying the soldiers from a Love’s Travel Station and “attempted multiple times to run the vans … off the road.”
After turning his vehicle into oncoming traffic to block the three vans, Harris reportedly “pointed a gun at a National Guard soldier, identified himself as a detective and demanded to search the vehicles,” Williams stated, noting the suspect then ordered the guardsmen out of their vehicles at gunpoint.
When questioned by police, Harris stated that he thought the people in the vans had kidnapped a woman and child, KLBK reported.
All 11 of the guardsmen were in uniform, KCBD reported.
According to police, Harris was in possession of a loaded 45-caliber Colt 1911 pistol, with a loaded magazine on his person and another loaded magazine in his truck when authorities responded. He was taken into custody without incident, the TV station reported.
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