PEA RIDGE, Ark. — On Aug. 31, two Pea Ridge officers responded to a situation that many consider their worst nightmare. Corporal Jake Steele and Sergeant Jamie Holland arrived at Ozark Gardens Apartments where they allegedly found 41-year-old Jacqueline Wilson holding her ex-boyfriend and his mother, Judy Nearns, at gunpoint.
Police say Wilson held on to her gun before they were able to convince her to lower the weapon. She then allegedly carried the weapon to her car, ignoring the officers' commands, before asking Officer Steele to shoot her.
"We know from history, training, and experience that a person with a firearm can become dangerous very quickly," says Lieutenant John Langham with Pea Ridge PD. "The danger is not over just because they're no longer pointing it at someone. For us, that's an extreme moment."
Officer Holland has over ten years of experience, and Steele has two, but this was Steele's first encounter de-escalating a situation with a deadly weapon.
Pea Ridge police say the first officer arrived within one minute of a 911 call.
Nearns says she's thankful the officers responded quickly, "They were great. Both of them were fantastic. I don't know what would have happened if they hadn't been there."
Beverely Gonce, a neighbor and close friend to Judy and her family, recounted the incident; "Judy told me that she was waving it around, putting it in their faces and told them, 'I'm gonna shoot you, I'm gonna shoot you, and I'm gonna shoot me, and it's gonna be just like in the movies.'"
"The mission is to protect lives. So, we know that we have to go into danger when everybody else is running away. We know that from the moment we take the badge, and in this case, it's exactly what he did," Langham adds.
Holland and Steele were able to take Wilson into custody after back-up arrived on the scene.
Wilson is in the Benton County jail facing several charges including aggravated assault, aggravated residential burglary, aggravated assault on a family or household member, and interference with emergency communication in the 1st degree. Her bond is set at $150,000.
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