Man arrested after alleged disturbance, fleeing deputies, barricading in house
A local man was arrested on multiple misdemeanor charges Wednesday after allegedly harassing county road department workers and then fleeing from Garland County sheriff’s deputies and barricading himself in his house.
Eric Boyce Evans, 54, of 103 Gold Nugget Loop, was taken into custody in the backyard of his residence shortly before 3 p.m. and charged with resisting arrest, punishable by up to one year in jail, disorderly conduct and fleeing on foot.
Evans, who lists no prior criminal history, remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $2,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 2 p.m., sheriff’s Cpl. Matthew Cogburn responded to the area of Treasure Isle and Clear Creek roads regarding a disorderly person allegedly harassing the county road department workers.
Cogburn made contact with a man, later identified as Evans, who was reportedly “belligerent and angry” that the road workers were clearing debris under the bridge. Cogburn explained the workers were “only doing their job” and Evans reportedly became “more agitated” and began yelling in Cogburn’s face.
At that point, Cogburn told Evans he was being arrested for disorderly conduct and Evans allegedly yelled, “(Expletive) you!” and ran back toward his house on Gold Nugget Loop.
Cogburn pursued Evans to the residence where he barricaded himself inside. Deputy Charles DeLaHunt and Sgt. Greg Kellar arrived a few moments later to assist.
Kellar was reportedly able to talk to Evans and eventually got him to come outside to his backyard. At that point, Cogburn attempted to take Evans into custody but he allegedly slapped Cogburn’s arm away and fled into a creek on the property.
Cogburn pursued Evans until he eventually came out of the creek and Cogburn and Kellar ordered him to get on the ground but he allegedly refused and continued trying to flee on foot. Cogburn was finally able to get close enough to him to deploy his Taser, which made contact with Evans, causing him to fall to the ground.
Evans reportedly got up and ran toward the creek again and Cogburn struck him in the right upper thigh with his baton and he fell to the ground again. At that point, Cogburn and DeLaHunt were able to take him into custody.
After being medically cleared by LifeNet, he was taken to the jail and charged with the misdemeanor counts.