County courthouse bats buzz during proceedings

TEXARKANA — Unruly bats are causing disorder in the court in Sevier County.

Ninth Circuit Judge Tom Cooper was conducting circuit court Thursday morning at the county courthouse in De Queen when about 30 of the creatures caused a ruckus.

“The bats got all stirred up. They started flying in the courtroom, and some of the people screeched and screamed while running out of the courtroom. They were deathly afraid. I guess some thought they were some kind of vampire bats, but they looked like fruit bats,” Cooper said.

“We called it a fly-by,” he said. “They got so close their wings stirred up the air and blew my hair.”

One of the bats brushed the arm of De Queen Police Chief Richard McKinley.

Chief Deputy Kim Culp of the county sheriff’s office caught one of the bats and held it until some photos were taken.

The bat attempted to bite him while he was holding the wings, Cooper said.

The court proceedings Thursday were for criminal cases. After the bat fly-by, Cooper moved the proceedings to the third floor.

“For safety, we moved court. We didn’t want anyone to get hurt. It might be cruel and unusual punishment,” Cooper said.

“It was tough to focus. People were ducking and screaming.”

Cooper said there are hundreds of bats in the top of the courthouse, and they have been stirring for a couple of weeks.

On Thursday, some of the animals were hanging onto the mesh on an audio speaker near the ceiling, Cooper said.

He suspects the bats were disturbed by the vibration of the speaker.

About two weeks ago, the bats also started flying during district court.

“One of the defendants was being sentenced, and a bat flew off a speaker. The bat flew by a defendant while he was standing before the judge. As the bat flew by, he grabbed it and threw it to the ground,” Deputy Prosecutor Manya Wood said.

After the courtroom was cleared Thursday morning and the lights were turned off, the bats started calming down, Cooper said.

Sevier County Judge Greg Ray has contacted Bill Rogers Jr. of Texarkana, who has wildlife management service providing wildlife pest control.

Rogers is to survey the problem today and suggest solutions.

Ray said the bats have been living in the elevator shaft in the courthouse.

“A maintenance man has been opening a vent in the elevator shaft about dusk, and about 300 bats in three days have flown out of the vent,” Ray said.

“We’re trying to let them get out by following their natural [habits]. The weather has warmed up, and I think they’re moving around. When it was colder, they were hibernating,” he said.

“By opening the vents, we’re letting them get out on their natural path instead of trying to catch them,” Ray said.

Ray is also going to promote the construction of bat houses in the area.

The bats would live in them and help control mosquitoes in downtown De Queen, Ray said.

The county judge said the bat problem is not one that he ever anticipated.

“I never thought I would be Batman,” he said.