Wednesday, August 8 2012 9:49 AM EDT2012-08-08 13:49:17 GMT
A jury has sentenced Jerry Lard to death in the shooting death of Trumann Police Officer Jonathan Schmidt. It took the jury more than an hour to come to a decision.
NEW INFORMATION: A jury has sentenced Jerry Lard to death in the shooting death of Trumann Police Officer Jonathan Schmidt. It took the jury more than an hour to come to a decision.
Thursday, April 21 2011 6:40 AM EDT2011-04-21 11:40:44 GMT
Lard sat silently in a wheelchair as the judge told him he's charged with capital murder, attempted capital murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine. Lard also faces an unrelated rape charge.
Tuesday, April 19 2011 6:45 AM EDT2011-04-19 10:45:21 GMT
Whether it was driving by or dropping off before or after their shopping trip. People from Jonesboro to Trumann were all eager to do what they could to give to the Schmidt family.
Thursday, April 14 2011 7:01 AM EDT2011-04-14 11:01:57 GMT
NEW DETAILS: During the conference, Arkansas State Police Public Information Officer Bill Sadler revealed that Schmidt and Officer Corey Overstreet were investigating the stopped vehicle because it was not insured.
Thursday, April 14 2011 7:00 AM EDT2011-04-14 11:00:02 GMT
Many of the residents who live at the Cottonwood Manor Apartments in Trumann heard the shots fired Tuesday night. In the light of day many are still wrapping their minds around the tragic shooting.
Dan Sligh and his wife were in their pickup truck on Interstate 5 heading to a camping trip when a bridge before them disappeared in a "big puff of dust."
The trucker was hauling drilling equipment when his load bumped against the steel framework over an Interstate 5 bridge. He looked in his rearview mirror and watched in horror as the span collapsed into the water behind him....
Friday, May 24 2013 11:20 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:20:43 GMT
These two have lots of plans now that school is out. "Going out to my Grandma Cricket's and seeing my big brother a lot." Cason and Noah Stinson were visiting Crowley's Ridge Nature Center where they
In 2012, more than 900 cases of tick-related illnesses were reported.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:26 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:26:51 GMT
WALDENBURG, AR (KAIT) - A small Poinsett County town is coming together to help a man who was injured at a local business. Wednesday, a tire ruptured in David Newsom's face while on the job. Now his coworkers,
Wednesday, a tire ruptured in David Newsom's face while on the job. Now his coworkers, along with members of the community are coming together to help him out.
Friday, May 24 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-24 23:20:30 GMT
BLACK ROCK, AR (KAIT) – Drivers have likely noticed a lot of construction recently beside the Black River bridge at Black Rock. Walter McMillan, the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department's district
Some local drivers have feared that a bridge collapse like the one in Washington State this week could happen closer to home. People have been particularly fearful of the aging Black River Bridge that connects Black Rock and Portia on U.S. 63 in Lawrence County.
PARAGOULD, AR (KAIT) -"Well, first of all, the word ‘regular' or ‘routine' doesn't exist. I'm sure we all know that," said Trumann Police Chief Tony Rusher.
In Wednesday afternoon's news conference, Chief Rusher answered a question about the phrase "routine traffic stop" in regards to a traffic stop made on Tuesday night that led to the death of officer Jonathan Schmidt.
Hoxie Police Chief Glen Smith is a 20 year veteran of the police force. During that time he was an officer with the Trumann Police Department where he said he spent a week helping train Jonathan Schmidt.
"When you go on duty you always have a worry that you want to get home safe that night," said Smith.
He said the events that happened last May in West Memphis and this week in Trumann are grim reminders that officers don't always make it back to their families.
"If a guy tells you he ain't scared on a traffic stop he needs to be doing something else because there's always that scary moment," said Smith>
When it comes to the phrase "routine traffic stop" Smith says it doesn't really exist.
"Report wise that's good, that's what we use on paper, you know, "routine" and that's how we say it but there's really never a routine traffic stop," said Smith.
Smith and his officers patrol Highways 63 and 67. When they pull someone over they never know what they'll find inside.
"You've got a bad guy in the car, he's got a weapon, they've got the upper hand on you at that point," said Smith.
In his two decades of service at various departments across Region 8 Smith said he has been in life-threatening situations.
"I've been shot at a few times when I worked out in different areas. I've had one gun pulled on me when I was a county officer," said Smith.
When officers pull someone over in Hoxie, the person behind the wheel may be someone they know but that doesn't take away the danger.
"They might have had something come up big that's happening to them and they're sitting on the edge," said Smith.
When you're pulled over and an officer is walking up to your car Chief Smith said he prefers you keep both hands on the steering wheel, that way he knows where they are at all times.
"If I can see their hands I'm pretty comfortable. I worry about what's in that back seat of that vehicle," said Smith.
Losing any officer is tough. Smith says Trumann has lost a great officer.
"Jonathan, he was all about his job. He wanted to learn and he wanted to be there for the people of Trumann," said Smith.
Tennessee has announced that Tim Rogers is stepping down as the university's vice chancellor for student life, less than three weeks after he cited an "intolerable situation" in an email that he sent to chancellor Jimmy...
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