NLR man, 41, faces DWI, assault counts

A North Little Rock man is accused of forcing his way into another person’s vehicle after crashing his own while driving while intoxicated Friday, then assaulting a paramedic, police say.

About 9 p.m., Arkansas State Police responded to a single-vehicle collision on Interstate 30 eastbound near mile marker 141, according to an arrest report. Troopers were told that a civilian had stopped to check on the driver.

As the civilian stopped, the driver, 41-year-old James Edward Lucas, forced himself into the passenger seat of the civilian’s vehicle, according to the report. The civilian reportedly took the keys from the ignition and got out. Lucas then moved

to the driver’s seat and tried to put the vehicle in gear, the report states.

When a paramedic arrived and walked up to the open driver’s-side door to ask if Lucas was OK, Lucas grabbed her by the neck of her vest and raised a screwdriver above his head in a stabbing motion, state police said. The paramedic was able to pull away and run, and Lucas shut the door to the car, authorities said.

Police took Lucas into custody and administered a preliminary breath test that registered his blood-alcohol content at 0.03, the report states. He reportedly refused to provide a urine sample and was aggressive toward staff at the Pulaski County jail.

Lucas was charged with aggravated assault, driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to chemical testing and careless and prohibited driving, the report states. He had been released from the Pulaski County jail Sunday evening, records show. He is scheduled to appear in court July 10.