WMPD to aquire armored vehicle

Shootout suspect at large, Sexual assault suspect behind bars

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

The West Memphis Police have announced their plans to acquire a second armored vehicle known as an MRAP which may be rolling down the streets of West Memphis within the next few months. The MRAP is used by the American military and stands for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle.

Provided by Federal Government through Executive Order 14074 a representative from the WMPD said that “the intention is not to intimidate or foster a hostile environment” and that steps will be taken to “reduce the militaristic appearance” of the vehicle. The representative reiterated that the vehicle will be used in only the most extreme of circumstances such as “disaster related emergencies, active shooter scenarios, hostage, search and rescue operations or anti-terrorism” and went on to say “We did some shooting at a range and we’ve got video of the bullets going all the way through the car. This is basically why we need the armor, we need stuff that, a regular car will not stop a bullet. This is the reason why we need this stuff. It’s not to be intimidating or anything else. It is to protect our guys.”

The WMPD currently has one armored vehicle, a Hummer, and is also scheduled to unveil their new police cruiser designs at a promotion ceremony to held at the Eugene Woods Civic Center on April 4, 2023 at 11:00a.m.

In other WMPD news:

■ ■ There were reports this past Sunday of a shootout on Dover Road near Missouri St when a man stopped and allegedly attempted to assault a woman. Seeing this the employee of a tree cutting service, both of whom did not wish to be named, witnessed the assault in progress and then proceeded to block the assailants vehicle in at which point the suspect began firing and the employee returned fire. The assailant then escaped before police could arrive. Sources say no arrests

See ARMORED, page A2

An example of the military armored MRAP soon to be seen on West Memphis streets.

Photo courtesy of the City of West Memphis ARMORED

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have been made and that a warrant for the suspect has been issued. No other details are available at this time and so far representatives from the WMPD declined to comment, even on the identity of the suspect.

■ A West Memphis man is behind bars after breaking into a woman’s home and sexually assaulting her. The incident occurred at the 300 block of Cooper in West Memphis. Shan Jeffery Steven, 22, of West Memphis was arrested on March 25, charged with rape, burglary, eeing and terroristic threatening. He remains in custody at the Crittenden County Jail. His bond has been set at $100,000.

STEVENSON