National guards who carried vaccines from Covid-19 across Texas on Monday were kept at gunpoint, police said.
Larry Harris is accused of following a convoy of National Guard soldiers before trying to drive them off the highway with his truck several times in Lubbock County, according to Idalou police chief Eric C. Williams.
Harris, 66, of Wilcox, Arizona, ended up turning his truck in the opposite direction, stopping three National Guard vans near Idalou, Williams said. He then pointed a gun at a soldier, identified himself as a detective, ordered the guards to get out of their vehicles and demanded that they search their vans, according to police.
The guards were in uniform and transporting vaccines to Matador, Texas.
Idalou police responded and managed to arrest Harris without incident, Williams said. He was carrying a loaded Colt 1911 45 caliber pistol, an additional magazine loaded with him, and another magazine loaded on his truck.
None of the guards were injured and the vaccines ended up reaching Matador.
It does not appear that vaccines were what Harris was looking for, officials said. He told police he thought the people in the vans had kidnapped a woman and a child, Williams said.
“Mr. Harris seemed to be mentally disturbed,” he said. “This was a very dangerous situation, as the suspect was in the middle of the Guard unarmed with a loaded gun, so the Idalou Officers arrived at the scene. We are grateful that the police were able to arrest him without any of the Guards, the police or the suspect if hurting. “
Harris faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, illegal restriction of 11 National Guard soldiers, illegal possession of a weapon, impersonation of a civil servant and interference with Texas military forces.
He is being held at the Lubbock County Detention Center. A lawyer was not listed for Harris on the prison records.
The Department of Homeland Security is involved in the investigation and additional federal charges against Harris are expected, Williams said.
