State police investigate shooting by local officer

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Arkansas State Police are still investigating circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old man by a Texarkana Arkansas Police officer at an apartment building shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday.

The man, identified as Don Crowson, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Miller County coroner, at which time his body was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for determination of cause and manner of death.

Police were dispatched to the apartment about 9:44 p.m. in response to a possible disturbance call.

“The caller told the dispatcher an individual had been pacing in the street, yelling that he was going to kill someone and (he) was jumping up and down on a fence,” Arkansas-side Police Public Information Officer Cpl. Kelly Pillgreen wrote in a press release. “The caller indicated the man appeared to be under the influence of drugs.”

Officers arrived on the scene and made contact with the individual inside a multi-family apartment residence in the 100 block of Hickory Street, Pillgreen wrote.

“Upon making contact (with the individual) the male charged at the officers with an object, yelling that he was going to kill them,” the press release went on to say. “One officer on the scene fired his service weapon and struck the male.”

Officers then rendered aid until a LifeNet ambulance arrived on the scene. However, the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The officers involved weren’t injured.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending the ASP’s investigation and ruling from the Eighth South Prosecuting Attorney.

The officers’ encounter with Crowson was recorded by body cameras in use at the time of the incident. The Arkansas-side Police Department will release a copy of the video when approved by counsel.