10/03/16   Correctional Officer Taken Into Custody Following Standoff

 

State Police say a correctional officer has been taken into custody following a standoff on Saturday at the Delta Regional Unit in Dermott. The incident began Saturday morning.

Authorities say 24 year old Devonte McCarter of Greenville, Mississippi had access to a rifle and refused orders to leave an observation tower. Arkansas Department of Correction spokesman Solomon Graves says the  standoff was resolved without incident more than 8 hours later. Graves said no one was injured.

According to a news release from State Police spokesman Bill Sadler, at about 11am Saturday morning, State Police received a request seeking assistance from the Department of Correction. Sadler said State Police and Department of Correction personnel conducted negotiations with McCarter until about 7:50 Saturday night when he surrendered.

McCarter was taken to Drew County Jail and is charged with commercial burglary. No more details about the incident were released. State Police are still investigating