CASH-ONLY BOND FOR STAND-OFF SUSPECT

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

A $500,000 cash only bond was set Monday for a Pine Bluff man who held law enforcement authorities at bay for nearly three hours Saturday.

New details about the events that led up to the stand off emerged during a court hearing Thomas Robert Gray, 46.

Circuit Judge Jodi Dennis set the bond after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Gray with criminal attempt capital murder, criminal mischief, committing a terroristic act, felony fleeing, and being a felon in possession of a firearm because of a prior conviction.

Gray was arrested after he rammed his truck through the gate at T & J Moving and Storage at 310 N. Hutchinson St., then held a pistol to his head and threatened to kill himself before sheriff’s Lt. Steve McFatridge, police Lt. Bob Rawlinson and Detective Bill Wiegand talked him into surrendering.

Reading from an affidavit from Wiegand, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Kyle Hunter said Gray had been involved in a relationship with Judy Wardlaw, the owner of the storage facility for several years before she “broke it off” April 29.

“Since that time, there has been no end to the trouble, and Ms. Wardlaw had an order of protection issued against Gray on May 5,” Hunter said. “He was served with the order, which became final May 18.”

Hunter said Gray “believed he had an ownership interest in a vending machine business, which is a civil issue,” adding that since Gray and Wardlaw broke up, “there have been numerous incidents, six or more allegations and reports that he violated the order of protection.”

On Saturday at about 2 p.m., Hunter said police were sent to a reported armed disturbance at Wardlaw’s business, which is also her residence on North Hutchinson Street.

“There was a 9-1-1 call from Ms. Wardlaw that reported she saw him pull up and get out with a pistol in his hand,” Hunter said. “”He fired two shots through the door, into the residential area and in addition to Ms. Wardlaw, there was a 14-year-old boy inside there and the boy was within 10 feet of where the shots went through the door.”

Hunter said Wardlaw ran and Gray chased her, firing shots before police arrived and he got in his truck, holding the gun, a .44-magnum, to his head.

“He said I’ll do it, I’ll shoot myself,” Hunter quoted police as saying.

After driving away, Hunter said police and deputies chased Gray’s truck onto the expressway, through White Hall, down U.S. 270, and finally back to the moving and storage facility where he crashed his truck through the gate.

“There was other traffic and pedestrians and he presented a danger to them during the pursuit,” Hunter said.

About three hours after crashing through the gate, and surrounded by authorities, Gray finally put his gun down and surrendered. He was taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center where he was examined before being released to police later Saturday.

“He told detectives he ‘was going to get his $15,000 (the amount Gray believed he was owed by Wardlaw) one way or the other,’ regardless of what he had to do,” Hunter quoted the affidavit as saying. “He also said it was going to end up like the Trophy House (referring to a man who shot himself outside the business earlier this year), did.”

Hunter said Gray had a prior conviction from 2002 but the record on that case had been sealed.

In addition to setting the bond, the judge ordered Gray to have no contact with Wardlaw or the 14-year-old boy until the case is settled.

Gray’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 6 at 9 a.m.