Using movie character's name lands man in jail

Telling city police that his name was Jack Reacher turned out not to be a good idea for a Mount Airy man who wound up in the Surry County Jail as a result.

The person whose actual identity is Ricky Mitchell Sheets, 38, of 145 N. Gilmer St., was encountered by at least three officers late last Saturday night.

They were responding to an intoxicated-pedestrian call and found sheets sitting on a balcony of an apartment building at 327 Cherry St. with an open container of alcohol, police records state.

When Sheets was asked for his name, he replied that it was “Jack Reacher,” the main character in a series of crime novels, along with two movies and a television series.

The arresting officer, Kandon Wilson, noted in his report that Sheets’ speech was slurred and he refused to come down a staircase from the balcony to speak with Wilson — despite being advised to do so several times.

“Sheets began cursing at me and (was) heard by other neighbors,” the officer said in his report.

“As I began walking toward the staircase leading to the balcony, Sheets threw his bottle of alcoholic beverage toward my patrol vehicle.”

It struck the ground near the vehicle.

The city man, who has the word “redneck” tattooed on his back, subsequently was arrested on charges of resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer and being intoxicated and disruptive.

He was held in the Surry County Jail under a $500 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in District Court on June 24.