Fulton County authorities have arrested 58-year-old Michael Nails, after he allegedly made threats of shooting and killing people. After Nails was taken into custody, he is alleged to have told law enforcement he considered using his loaded sawed-off rifle to initiate an exchange of gunfire.
According to the probable cause affidavit, a traffic stop was initiated west of Salem Saturday, after Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork received information about Nails’ alleged threats.
Officers from both the sheriff’s office and the Salem Police Department conducted the stop and reported Nails moving about inside his vehicle, but were unable to see his hands.
Verbal commands were given to Nails to place both his hands outside his vehicle, and he complied.
Upon command, the suspect opened the vehicle door from the outside and allegedly jumped out in an aggressive manner.
Officers reported Nails was very agitated, ceased to follow further commands and alternated looking from them to inside his vehicle.
After a brief struggle, Nails was placed in handcuffs.
Officers located a red bag containing the loaded weapon inside the vehicle, after Nails alerted them to it. Several items of drug paraphernalia were also reportedly found in the bag.
Under the driver’s seat was a bag containing ammunition for the rifle.
On Nails’ person, officers allegedly located a baggie containing a crystalline substance field testing positive for methamphetamine.
Nails reportedly told the officers he thought about grabbing the gun to make them shoot him while he was not complying to their verbal commands.
Nails has been charged with a felony count of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, a Class Y felony, the most serious classification of crime in Arkansas not punishable by death. He also faces felony counts of terroristic threatening, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; use or possession with the purpose to use drug paraphernalia; and criminal use of a prohibited weapon, possession of a sawed-off rifle.
He is being held on a $250,000 cash only bond.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI