HOT SPRINGS, AR – 911 dispatchers in Garland County took a call from a man threatening to kill law enforcement officers Wednesday (7/8).
Deputies had to search for the man who apparently had it out for specific officers and law enforcement in general.
According to the Garland County Sheriff’s Office the man on the phone Wednesday afternoon and evening was Tony Ross, 51.
Ross’ encounter with law enforcement apparently began the day before. We’re told two Hot Springs National Park Service Officers encountered him Tuesday along Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs. He was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct and taken to jail then.
He apparently stayed there a day and started calling 9-1-1 and various other law enforcement officers after he got out Wednesday.
The two 911 call tapes we have go on for 20 minutes. In the call he says he watching a location waiting on officers saying various things like “today’s a good day to die”.
Sheriff Michael McCormick says dispatchers handled it very well.
Various statements made include:
“I’m gonna go down fighting. They better bring the task force.”
“… Guess what strike three they’re out. I’m gonna burn them. I’m gonna burn them down.”
A conversation with a dispatcher went like this:
T: “…Nope but I got my gun with me.”
D: “What kind of gun do you have?”
T: “A 9mm.”
D: “A 9mm.” “What are you gonna do with it?”
T: “I’m gonna kill them b******.”
D: “Who you gonna kill?”
T: “The two m***** f****** who arrested me.”
While dispatchers had Ross on the phone they were able to send officers to the area. The Officers searched and say they ultimately found him nearby.
Ross was arrested at gunpoint but without a fight. Deputies took him to the County Jail where he was booked for 13 counts of 1st degree terroristic threatening and 13 counts for obstruction of governmental operations.
