Trammell accused of trying to take Benton County deputy's gun

 Justin Trammell
Justin Trammell

BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man, who was convicted as a teenager for killing his father with a crossbow, has been arrested after fighting with a sheriff's deputy for the deputy's gun.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office deputy used his stun gun on Justin Trammell, 34, several times but was only able to restrain Trammell with the assistance of two other people, according to court documents filed Wednesday morning.

Trammell was being held Wednesday in the Benton County Jail with a $250,000 bond set. He was arrested Monday in connection with aggravated assault, battery, endangering the welfare of a minor, no child passenger restraint, criminal trespass, driving while intoxicated-drugs, reckless driving, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental operations. Prosecutors have not filed formal charges against Trammell.

Deputy Darren Robertson went Monday to a car crash at 12946 Minch Springs Road in the Garfield area, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Robertson saw two girls on the ground and saw Trammell talking on a cellphone, according to the affidavit. He knelt down to care for the girls and then felt his gun being pulled on, according to court documents. Robertson pushed the Trammell's hand away, and Trammell continued to try and grab the gun. Robertson knocked him away by punching Trammell in the neck, according to the affidavit.

Trammell walked toward Robertson, and the deputy pulled his stun gun and told Trammell to get on the ground, the affidavit states. Trammell continued to approach Robertson, who fired the stun gun and hit Trammell in the chest, according to the affidavit.

Trammell went down and immediately got up and continued to come at Robertson while saying, "I'm Jesus Christ, and I have to get rid of the Devil," according to the affidavit.

Robertson fired his stun gun twice more at Trammell who continued toward the deputy while pulling the leads out, according to the affidavit. Robertson stunned Trammell again and then took him to the ground where Trammell continued to try and get Robertson's gun, and Robertson continued to stun him, according to the affidavit.

Jack Sanders, a paramedic, and Adam Kinney, an Avoca firefighter, arrived and helped Robertson handcuff Trammell, according to the affidavit.

One of the girls was Trammell's daughter and the other was his niece, according to court documents.

Michael Hopping, the son of the property owner, told deputies he heard the pickup coming up the driveway at a high rate of speed and two girls were on the tool box in the back. They were thrown after the pickup hit a trailer, according to the affidavit.

An accident reconstruction crew determined the pickup was traveling at 60 mph when it hit a wood-burning stove outside the home, a pickup bed trailer and large tree stump before crashing through a fence.

Deputies obtained a sample of Trammell's blood to submit to the Arkansas Crime Laboratory.

Trammell's 11-year-old-daughter was taken by helicopter to a Springfield, Mo., hospital and treated for a brain bleed and injuries to her rib cage, according to the affidavit. His 10-year-old niece was taken to Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville and treated for abrasions on her legs and arms, according to the affidavit.

Trammell was taken to Mercy Hospital in Rogers and then to the county jail.

Trammell pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in June 2000 in Benton County Circuit Court for the Sept. 26, 1999, killing of his father, Mike Trammell Sr., 37, with a crossbow. Trammell was 15 years old when the incident occurred, and he served time in a juvenile facility before being placed on probation.

Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green held Trammell's bond hearing Wednesday morning, but Trammell's latest case will be assigned to Circuit Judge Brad Karren.

Green will recuse from the case since she was Benton County prosecutor when Trammell pleaded guilty to killing his father.

Trammell's arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 13 in Karren's court.

NW News on 07/12/2018

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