Man arrested after standoff with police

POCAHONTAS, Arkansas (KAIT) – Police have arrested a Texas man after an altercation with officers at a gas station following reports he fired an AR-style rifle.

On Monday, August 19, Pocahontas Police responded to an incident at Murphy USA in front of the Walmart Supercenter on Highway 67.

According to Randolph County Sheriff Kevin Bell, at 1:32 a.m., a truck driver delivering fuel reported seeing a man, 42-year-old Jared Wesley Forward of Newton, Texas, firing one shot from an AR-style rifle and walking around with the rifle.

Randolph County Sheriff's officers assisted Pocahontas police and a standoff ensued.

Bell said officers were able to detain Forward and persuade him to surrender himself and the weapon.

No one was injured in the incident. Bell said there is no known reason why it happened, but added that Forward was likely under the influence of alcohol.

Pocahontas Police are investigating the incident.

Forward is charged with pointing a gun at an officer, shooting within city limits, and possession of a controlled substance (meth).

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