A man accused of being involved in a standoff with police on a Springdale Walmart parking lot after an officer shot at him appeared before a magistrate judge on Friday (June 14) to hear the charges against him.
Rainbow Kilo Rasphoumy, 40, of Huntsville, is charged with aggravated assault, second-degree assault and resisting arrest, court officials said. He appeared briefly before Judge Ray Reynolds at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville.
Rasphoumy is scheduled to appear in the same court on July 12 for an arraignment to enter a plea.
Police said he pointed a toy gun at officers June 12 outside the Walmart Neighborhood Market at 3553 E. Robinson Ave. in Springdale before barricading himself in a van. An officer fired seven shots, with each shot hitting the van, police said.
At 7:47 a.m. on June 12, police said Rasphoumy’s niece called and said he had been outside her home for about an hour. She said the man had mental problems and often bothers her, according to a 911 call.
Police said she provided a description of his van, which officers later tried to stop at Robinson Avenue and Butterfield Coach Road, authorities said. Police said he pulled into the Walmart parking lot.
Rasphoumy got out of the van at the officer’s request, according to a police report, but soon became uncooperative and got back in the vehicle.
Police said he grabbed an object similar to a flute and raised it above his hands as if he were going to hit the officers. The police report states Rasphoumy attempted to kick the officers, and they used a Taser on him, but that did not stop him.
Rasphoumy pulled what appeared to be a handgun on them, police said. Officers attempted take cover, but while on the move, one officer fired seven shots at the van, the report states.
Rasphoumy was not hit. He barricaded himself in the van, eyewitnesses said. No one else was in the van, police said.
Rasphoumy was taken into custody about 9 a.m. after talking with police negotiators, authorities said.
Investigators told 5NEWS they recovered a black plastic toy gun that resembled a snub-nose revolver, three chickens, two ducks and three parakeets from the van. The birds were all alive, officials said.
Investigators later recovered a a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, an ax and other weapons from the van, according to police.
The officer who fired the shots is on administrative leave pending the outcome of an police investigation, authorities said..
The Walmart manager moved all customers and employees to the back of the building during the incident. No injuries were reported.
Customers later were escorted out of the store.
