Man in custody after standoff with West Memphis police

Suspect arrested, wanted in Randolph County on battery charges

ralphhardin@gmail.com It turns out West Memphis police had good reason to take every precaution in apprehending a man who locked himself in a local motel.

Police officials say a suspect arrested after a standoff at a West Memphis motel late last week had previously been arrested for attacking another law enforcement official with a deadly weapon. According to West Memphis police reports, the suspect, wanted out of Memphis, Tennessee by police there, was barricaded at the Econo Lodge on South Service Road on Thursday, Aug. 4.

U.S. Marshals and officers with West Memphis SWAT responded to the scene. The suspect was taken into custody at around 1:06 p.m. that afternoon. No one was injured in the incident.

The suspect was later identified as 44-year-old Daniel Roberts, of Pocahontas, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for not showing up to court, according to Randolph County Sheriff Kevin Bell.

Roberts was previously charged with battery for swinging a machete at a deputy in October 2021.

He is currently being held in the Crittenden County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

Photos courtesy of CCSO