ARMED "TO THE TEETH" ARTHUR PULLS GUN - Looking For "Treason Violator"

(06/06/2005)
A Calhoun County man is in North Central Regional Jail after he allegedly pulled a gun in a State Police barracks in Wood County shortly after noon Sunday.

(SEE earlier Hur Herald story)

Bucky Dale Arthur, 49, of Mt. Zion was arrested on one count each of attempted murder of a police officer and wanton endangerment following the incident.

A dispatcher said Arthur walked into the barracks and asked for an officer to arrest someone, saying that person was guilty of treason.

State Police said he was wearing two Ruger Redhawk .45 cal. revolvers in a western-style double holster. he was carrying about 100 rounds of ammo on his person on belts.

"The dispatcher, identified as Steven Daley, looked down and saw he had the guns and told Arthur only police officers were allowed to have firearms in the building.

Daley then asked him to remove the guns. He refused.

The dispatcher told Arthur to take the guns back to his vehicle. He reportedly replied there may be traitors in the building and refused to remove the weapons.

Troopers then entered the lobby to disarm the man, telling him to put his hands against the wall. He refused and then allegedly pulled one of the pistols.

An officer said Sunday "It was a critical situation. It came down to either we were going to shoot him, he was going to shoot, or maybe we would have shot each other."

The criminal complaint filed in Wood County Magistrate Court, said Arthur "responded by taking a half step backward with his left foot, assuming a fighting stance and attempting to pull his right-hand weapon."

Officers said the Ruger Redhawk was stuck in the holster and they were able to subdue Arthur before he could dislodge it.

"The defendant got the revolver partially from his holster, but the retention thong of the holster caught the hammer of the revolver."

Sgt. (R.L) Talkington pushed the defendant against the wall and Trooper P.T. Kelly removed the right side weapon from the defendant.

After a brief struggle, Sgt. Talkington was able to remove the defendant's left-side weapon.

All three officers struggled with the defendant and were able to place the defendant in handcuffs, police said.

The criminal complaint said the defendant stated to Sgt. Talkington that "he had intended to kill him."

More than 2,300 rounds of ammunition were found in Arthur's vehicle, which was parked outside. Police found 11 more firearms in the vehicle.

Acquaintances of Arthur, who is about 5' 8" tall and weighs about 200 pounds, said he often wore a cowboy hat. He has no criminal record listed in Calhoun County, but neighbors described him as "a loner who had some kind of problem."