Shooting Victim Off Ventilator, Sheriff Says

A Crawford County woman who police say was shot by her boyfriend over the weekend is off a ventilator and may soon talk to deputies.

Sheriff Ron Brown said Tuesday (March 12) investigators plan to speak to Sarah Lind this week about the incident that left her hospitalized.

Eric Duane Butler, 38, was arrested Sunday (March 10) on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated assault on a police officer. He was booked into the Crawford County jail and remains there on $175,000 bond.

Police responded Sunday to 10933 Sulphur Springs Road after receiving a call that Butler had attacked and shot Lind, his live-in girlfriend. Emergency crews responded to the scene, and Lind was transported to Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith in critical condition, according to county officials.

The woman told responding crews that Butler had shot her on purpose and that he had been trying to kill her, according to an incident report from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

An 11-year-old boy told police he was in bed that night, when he was awoken by yelling and screaming. He went outside and saw Butler on top of the woman. He immediately called police.

The boy told police Butler and Lind fought often, according to the incident report.

Butler had been drinking at a neighbor’s house that night, when Lind went to pick him up, the boy told officers.

The boy was taken into custody by the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

Butler was at the scene when crews arrived, and told police he accidentally shot Lind while he meant to shoot at a pack of dogs, the report states.

While being interviewed at the scene by a deputy, Butler pulled out a pocket knife and yelled at the deputy while turning toward him, the incident report states. The deputy struck Butler with his flashlight and placed him under arrest, according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.