Two wildlife officers kill Elaine man

— One or more Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officers shot and killed an Elaine man Friday night after he struck an Arkansas State Police trooper twice with his truck, a state-police news release said Saturday.

About 10:30 p.m., Trooper Jason Martin and wildlife officers tried to stop Darryl Vance Parker, 50, who they believed had been night hunting in Phillips County, state police spokesman Bill Sadler said in the release. Martin initiated the stop along Phillips County Road 350, west of Barton, after Parker drove into a wheat field and his truck slowed because of thick mud, the news release said.

Martin, who was on foot, was approaching Parker’s pickup when Parker moved the truck, striking Martin and knocking the trooper to the ground, the news release said.

Parker struck Martin with the truck again as Martin made his way to the driver’s door. Wildlife officers then fired into the truck’s cab, hitting Parker, according to the news release.

Parker died at the scene. Martin was taken to a Memphis hospital after suffering non-life-threatening injuries. He was in stable condition Saturday, the news release said.

State police special agents are investigating the officer involved shooting and referred questions about the officers’ identities and administrative status to Game and Fish Commission agency commanders.

A commission operator said Saturday that agency commanders would not be available until Monday.

Arkansas, Pages 18 on 12/16/2012

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