MULBERRY - A 41-yearold Mulberry man was arrested on multiple charges Tuesday morning after holding police at bay for more than 10 hours after an argument with a girlfriend during which he shot one of her vehicle’s tires, Mulberry Police Chief Shannon Gregory said.
Brady McCollum was being held in the Crawford County jail Tuesday on charges of aggravated assault, third-degree battery, criminal mischief and terroristic threatening. His bond was set at $3,500.
Mulberry police received a call at about 11:08 p.m. Monday about a domestic disturbance with shots fired at 842 Jackson Ave., Gregory said. When officers arrived, he said, they found McCollum outside, but he quickly went inside and would not open the door.
Gregory said McCollum had been arguing with his girlfriend and had threatened to shoot her if she did not get off his property. He then shot one of the tires of her car.The woman was not injured, Gregory said.
Because McCollum was armed, officers did not try to enter the home but instead secured the area around it, Gregory said. Five homes around McCollum’s were evacuated.
In addition to Mulberry police, officers with the Crawford County sheriff ’s office, Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Highway Police responded. Gregory said the county’s Special Weapons and Tactics unit staged near the home but were not called upon.
Initially, police negotiators communicated with McCollum using a bullhorn, and Mc-Collum responded by shouting out a window. Later, they spoke by phone, Gregory said.
He said the negotiators were able to establish a rapport with McCollum and persuaded him to surrender. He walked out of the home at about 9:30 a.m. and was arrested without incident, Gregory said.
As of mid-afternoon Tuesday, McCollum was still in custody.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 06/26/2013