Arizona Man Held National Guardsmen Transporting COVID Vaccines At Gunpoint
By Ginny Reese
March 23, 2021
A man from Arizona has been arrested in Texas for holding a caravan of National Guardsmen transporting COVID-19 vaccines at gunpoint, reported Fox 10 Phoenix.
According to police, 66-year-old Larry Harris followed and made several attempts to run the caravan off the road on Monday.
Harris allegedly claimed to be a detective and ordered the unarmed Guardsmen to get out of their vehicles at gunpoint with a loaded Colt 1911.
Idalou Police Chief Eric Williams stated:
"They're unarmed, they comply. They get out of the van. This guy is holding them at gunpoint and starts searching their van. You know the question was asked whether or not he was after the COVID-19 vaccine, As far as we know, he was thinking that someone had been kidnapped."
None of the 11 Guardsmen, who were in uniforms, were injured.
An Arizona man was arrested after he allegedly held at gunpoint a caravan of National Guardsmen transporting COVID-19 vaccines to Matador, Texas, according to police.​ https://t.co/9fuSJvyC88
— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) March 23, 2021
Williams said:
"I am amazed that this did not turn into a very bad situation because he was standing in the midst of these guardsmen, with a loaded gun. Plenty of ammunition to cause a lot of havoc, and for whatever reason, he put the gun in the front of his pants when he saw officers arriving."
According to Williams, he believed that Harris was "acting erratically" and was arrested "without incident."
Harris is facing charges aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as well as interference with Texas Military Forces. If he is convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.