Fayetteville man accused of shooting at cops

Lionel Thomas
Lionel Thomas

FAYETTEVILLE -- A man arrested in connection with attempted murder who police say shot at them was released from jail two days later on $5,000 bond.

Lionel Thomas, 21, of 1829 W. Deane St., was arrested at 8:23 a.m. Friday after police say he fired two shots at officers trying to search his residence, according to a preliminary arrest report. Thomas told police he didn't know he was shooting at officers.

Officers from the Police Department's Emergency Response Team went to serve the search warrant with officers from the Springdale Police Department assisting. The report said investigators with the 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force had gathered information on drug trafficking and firearms at the residence and a "no knock" warrant was obtained.

Police broke a bedroom window, yelled "Police, search warrant" and two shots were fired, according to the report. Three officers were near the window. One bullet passed within inches of one officer's head. Another officer was had sheetrock dust and debris on his chest, face and firearm, according to the report. Other officers were behind those three officers. No one was injured in the shooting.

The officers saw a man in the bedroom, but did not see that he had a gun, according to the report. The man ran from the bedroom and officers who were already inside the house arrested him. He was later identified as Thomas.

Thomas said the sound of the window breaking woke him up. Thomas said he was sleeping with a handgun in his bed because the house had been broken into several days before, according to the report. Thomas said he reached for the pistol, moved against a wall and fired at the side of the window.

Thomas said he heard shouts of "Shots fired, shots fired," and realized it was the police. He said he ran to the other bedroom but it was locked.

Video from the officers' body cameras showed the officers "breached the window and gave clear and concise verbal announcements including 'Police' and 'Search warrant' and the shots were fired after those announcements," according to the report.

Thomas was taken to the Washington County Detention Center and booked at 8:49 a.m. Saturday in connection with attempted murder; possession of a controlled substance; possession of drugs with intent to deliver; simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm; possession of drug paraphernalia; and unlawful use of a communication device. He was released at 6:58 p.m. Sunday.

The other resident of the house was taken into custody on misdemeanor charges and was not identified in the report. The investigation is continuing.

NW News on 09/17/2019

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