TYLER, Texas — A man who officials say pointed a rifle at a Smith County constable deputy while he was getting evicted from a Tyler residence was arrested after an hours-long standoff Friday.
The Smith County Sheriff's Office said Smith County Pct.1 Constable Ralph Caraway Jr. and a constable deputy came to serve an eviction notice at a home home in the 1600 block of Alamo Drive.
The tenant, who was identified as Curtis Dewayne Clark, 44, pointed a rifle at the deputy constable after Caraway and the deputy entered the home following several minutes of knocking loudly and identifying themselves as constables, the sheriff's office said.
According to officials, the constables both retreated for cover. Caraway contacted Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith for help from the sheriff's office and its SWAT team.
Upon arrival, deputies set up a perimeter around the home, and Tyler Police Department officers responded to the scene as well. The sheriff's office said all efforts to negotiate with Clark were unsuccessful.
Arrest and search warrants were issued for Clark with a bond set at $500,000. Just before more personnel arrived to help, Clark exited from the back door and surrendered to deputies, the sheriff's office said.
Two hours before Clark exited, the Smith County SWAT deployed tear gas into the residence at different locations of the house. He is now going through the process of getting booked into the Smith County Jail.