AR man held on $5M bond; accused of shooting at judge, officers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Harrisburg, Arkansas man is being held on a $5 million bond after police say he shot at a Poinsett County judge and law enforcement officers.

Christopher Ford, 35, was arrested by the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday.

According to reports, deputies responded to Judge Ron Hunter’s home around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday after receiving a call from the judge, claiming a man was threatening him on his property. The property was searched, but law enforcement officials could not find the man responsible.

Around 9:30 p.m. the same night, Judge Hunter’s wife called to report that someone had fired shots at their house.

A deputy arrived at the home, and while speaking with the judge, a person began shooting at them. Reports say additional deputies arrived and the shooter began firing shots at the responding officers also.

No one was injured in the incident.

Multiple law enforcement agencies began searching for the man responsible for the shooting.

On Sunday, around 3 p.m., a search warrant was conducted on a home linked to the shooting incident the day before.

Ford was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, criminal attempt to commit capital murder, terroristic act, manufacture of a schedule VI controlled substance (greater than 14 grams but less than four ounces), possession of a firearm by certain persons, and terroristic threatening 1st degree.

On Monday, the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office announced that Ford had been charged with two additional crimes in connection to the shooting — forgery 1st degree and animal cruelty.

It was later discovered that one of Judge Hunter’s mules was shot during the incident. Officers also found counterfeit $100 bills during the search warrant on his home.

Ford appeared before Judge Scott Ellington on Monday for a Probable Cause Hearing, where his bond was set at $5 million.

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