Tyler

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

A man riding the bus from Alabama to California was detoured Wednesday when he landed in the Smith County Jail.

The man's troubles began when he jumped into the backseat of a black Dodge Charger parked in front of the Greyhound Bus Station on Bois d'Arc Avenue and came face to face with two .40-caliber Glock handguns.

Smith County District Attorney Investigators Corey Hoover and Kyle Benson had just gotten back into the car after working on a case unrelated to the man when the back door flew open and he dove in head first.

"All of the sudden this guy was right in my face and waist deep in my car," Hoover said. "I and Benson instinctively drew our weapons because we did not know what his intentions were."

Hoover said the man tried to flee the scene and then fought with the two investigators before they were able to subdue him and place him in handcuffs.

While the officers were fighting with the man, bystanders called 911 and about 20 Tyler police officers swarmed the area to assist the lawmen.

Hoover and Benson then left the scene, and Tyler police interviewed the man, who told wild tales of being in the Witness Protection Program and that he thought the officers were there to pick him up.

Tyler officers trying to better understand the situation uncuffed the man and were going to help him get on a bus to California, when they received new information and placed him under arrest for criminal trespassing.

Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham and Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle both said the story the man told didn't hold a lot of water seeing how the car was unmarked and both men were in plain clothes.

"We don't know what his intentions were, but boy did he get a big surprise," Swindle said.

Swindle also said there was a minor communication problem with the two agencies, but other than that he was happy at the outcome and that no one was injured.

"He is where I think he needs to be and that is in jail," he said. "Everyone did their jobs."

Bingham said the situation could have proven to be a serious situation had an ordinary citizen been in the car.

"The scary thing is what if this had been just an ordinary citizen? I think the scenario could have been real bad. I don't think he counted on two armed investigators who were able to protect themselves being in the vehicle. In short, he just picked the wrong car," he said.

Bingham said the man may face additional charges in the next few days.