An Arizona man who already faces state charges of assaulting an Army National Guard convoy in Texas has been charged by the federal government.
Larry Lee Harris, 66, was charged with assaulting a federal officer with a lethal weapon in Lubbock County on Monday, the North Texas District Attorney’s Office said.
The National Guard was transporting vaccines from Covid-19, but Harris believed a missing woman and girl were in the vans, officials said. No one was injured in the incident.
Harris reportedly started following the convoy in Lubbock, pulled up next to him, showed a gun and, after the Guard vans stopped, identified himself as a detective with the gun in hand and demanded to search the vehicles, according to prosecutors. He then started to walk away, but turned around and demanded a search of the engine compartment.
The federal court’s online records did not appear to be available on Friday night, and it was not clear whether Harris had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. The prison records show that he is in custody, but do not list a lawyer.
Idalou, Texas, Police Chief Eric C. Williams said Harris appeared to be mentally disturbed and considered the assault a dangerous situation.
Guard personnel were unarmed while transporting vaccines to Matador, Texas, which is northeast of Idalou.
Attacking a federal officer with a deadly weapon carries a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted, the United States prosecutor said.
