WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — The police chief of a small town in East Arkansas found himself behind bars Thursday morning after West Memphis Police said he threatened to shoot and kill three members of his family, and then himself.
According to an incident report from West Memphis Police, 32-year-old Robert Lee Thomas, listed in the report as the police chief of Parkin, Arkansas, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault around 2 a.m. Thursday.
The report said Thomas' wife told police he pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her, before he started choking her when she pushed him away.
That's when the police report said Thomas called his sister, telling her to pick up his wife since he was "about to kill her."
Thomas' sister told police in the report she started recording when she arrived and he got angry with her, when he said he was going to kill her, his wife, and his dad, before she told police Thomas pointed the gun at himself, threatening to end his own life.
Police said they were then called to the scene, disarming Thomas and arresting him. He was later charged with aggravated assault and booked into the Crittenden County Jail.
We've reached out to Parkin City Hall, but have yet to receive a reply.