FORT SMITH - The man accused of trying to kill a Fort Smith cop will be brought back tomorrow to face a charge of attempted capital murder.
Corporal Barney Parsons is doing well for a man who was shot four times. The veteran officer was released from the hospital Tuesday. Meanwhile, four investigators from Fort Smith will fly to New Mexico tomorrow to bring the suspect and his vehicle back to Arkansas.
"He's a model officer."
The family that is the Fort Smith police department is breathing a sigh of relief that one of their own survived Sunday's shooting. 25-year-old Tristan Honey allegedly shot the officer during a traffic stop. He later turned himself in to an officer at this weigh station in San Jon, New Mexico. According to Public Safety spokesman, Lt. Eric Garcia, Honey said he had heard from family and friends that he was a wanted man.
"Within a split second Officer Gonzalez stepped up from his desk and immediately grabbed him and cuffed him just in case something went south on him," Lt. Garcia said by phone from New Mexico.
At first he talked to police, but after being read his rights he reportedly clammed up.
"His eyes were red he was pretty fatigued and during the ongoing interview process he clearly indicated that he had been awake since the time of the traffic stop," Garcia said.
Four investigators will fly to eastern New Mexico tomorrow morning to take custody of him. Two will fly back with Honey, while the other two will bring back his truck. Honey should be booked into the Sebastian County jail sometime Wednesday.
Here at home, Major Dean Pitts is focused on his friend. The corporal was his training officer when he first signed on back in 1991. Pitts says Parsons' emotions are running the gamut.
"It's an emotional situation when someone's trying to take your life, and I don't think anyone can understand that without having been in that position," Pitts told 5NEWS.
What happened has changed the decisions their fellow officers make.
"I will tell you that I've seen officers who don't normally wear their body armor start wearing it now."
As for his own attitude about what happened, Major Pitts says: "You can't help but feel angry towards the person that did this to him, but I think really the biggest question in everyone's mind is why."
And that's a question Honey has not answered according to New Mexico State Police.
Major Pitts says Corporal Parsons and his family want to sincerely thank the department and community for the overwhelming concern and show of support.
Corporal Barney Parsons is doing well for a man who was shot four times. The veteran officer was released from the hospital Tuesday. Meanwhile, four investigators from Fort Smith will fly to New Mexico tomorrow to bring the suspect and his vehicle back to Arkansas.
"He's a model officer."
The family that is the Fort Smith police department is breathing a sigh of relief that one of their own survived Sunday's shooting. 25-year-old Tristan Honey allegedly shot the officer during a traffic stop. He later turned himself in to an officer at this weigh station in San Jon, New Mexico. According to Public Safety spokesman, Lt. Eric Garcia, Honey said he had heard from family and friends that he was a wanted man.
"Within a split second Officer Gonzalez stepped up from his desk and immediately grabbed him and cuffed him just in case something went south on him," Lt. Garcia said by phone from New Mexico.
At first he talked to police, but after being read his rights he reportedly clammed up.
"His eyes were red he was pretty fatigued and during the ongoing interview process he clearly indicated that he had been awake since the time of the traffic stop," Garcia said.
Four investigators will fly to eastern New Mexico tomorrow morning to take custody of him. Two will fly back with Honey, while the other two will bring back his truck. Honey should be booked into the Sebastian County jail sometime Wednesday.
Here at home, Major Dean Pitts is focused on his friend. The corporal was his training officer when he first signed on back in 1991. Pitts says Parsons' emotions are running the gamut.
"It's an emotional situation when someone's trying to take your life, and I don't think anyone can understand that without having been in that position," Pitts told 5NEWS.
What happened has changed the decisions their fellow officers make.
"I will tell you that I've seen officers who don't normally wear their body armor start wearing it now."
As for his own attitude about what happened, Major Pitts says: "You can't help but feel angry towards the person that did this to him, but I think really the biggest question in everyone's mind is why."
And that's a question Honey has not answered according to New Mexico State Police.
Major Pitts says Corporal Parsons and his family want to sincerely thank the department and community for the overwhelming concern and show of support.
