Victim's family at odds with law
Police maintain shooting of Carl Ray Wilson was justified
By SAMANTHA HUSEAS
Log Cabin Staff Writer
http://thecabin.net
Wednesday, January 17, 2001
E-Mail this story to a friend
By Samantha Huseas
As the formal investigation into the shooting death of Carl Ray Wilson continues, his family, as well as the Arkansas State Police, have released statements.
Wilson's brother, Steve Wilson of Fayetteville, sent the family's statement to the Log Cabin Democrat via e-mail after a brief telephone conversation in which he said his brother was no longer the man police have said he was.
Carl Ray Wilson, 60, died Friday morning at his home, east of Mayflower, as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, with assistance from the Conway SWAT team and Faulkner County Special Response Team "conducted a lawful search warrant on the residence of Carl Ray Wilson in Mayflower," according to the State Police statement.
The contents of the search warrant are not being released by officials but a copy of the warrant was apparently left with family members. They have said officers were looking for a rifle.
"A distraction device was deployed and officers announced," according to the police statement. "Upon entry, officers were fired upon by (the) suspect, defensive shots were returned. Carl Wilson was shot and died on the scene."
The police statement said Sgt. Jason Young of the Sheriff's Office "received a round from the suspect which was deflected by body armor. Officer Larry Hearn of the Conway Police Department was also injured in the exchange." Both were treated and released from Conway Regional Medical Center that morning.
"The Arkansas State Police investigation has revealed no evidence of wrong doing on the part of the Metro Swat team or any other agency," the police release concludes.
The family's statement differs from that of the police's on how entry was made. The release follows:
"Carl Wilson has been painted out to be an explosives and weapons outlaw, instead he was, in fact, a retired construction worker, father, and grandfather on disability. His favorite pastime was playing dominos.
"He cooperated with the investigation, and testified for the prosecution in the infamous Mary Lee Orsini case, in which Mr. (Bill) Buford, of the ATF, was an investigator.
"Mr. Buford was heard saying to Carl Wilson after the Orsini case, 'I'll get you.'
"The last two months Carl sold Christmas trees and pecans to the public along the roadside. Why couldn't the police have just arrested him there, if they had a surveillance team investigating him?
"Contrary to reports appearing in the papers to date, to the effect that shooting was taking place as police approached the house, the police entered at dawn, unannounced, dressed in dark clothes and black masks. The alarm clock went off and immediately there were shots fired. Did the alarm set off an already tense situation?
"The family is adamant that Carl would not have drawn or fired a weapon at any police officer, but like many, he would have defended his family against intruders, and for that he was gunned down in his own bedroom, and bled to death on his own bed.
"The family wants to know why so much force was necessary to serve a simple search warrant, for only one deer rifle and ammunition? Carl was a man who was always cooperative with any investigation, and lived a simple, open, day to day life. He has a proven history of cooperation with law enforcement.
"The family also questions why a safer method was not used, instead of jeopardizing the lives of family members and police officers? There just ought to be a better way to do these things.
"Was the Faulkner County Police Department and the SWAT team possibly mislead, perhaps used as pawns, to satisfy a personal vendetta? A lot of questions are left unanswered.
"We feel Melody Piazza (deputy prosecutor) pinpointed Carl Wilson's personality. He was an 'old outlaw reformed.'
"Any memorials for Carl Wilson may be donated to his church: Bayou Meto Baptist Church."
The State Police investigation is continuing but is not expected to take long. The Conway Police Department will also conduct an administrative inquiry, according to Sgt. Susan Wilson, and it too should not take long to conclude, she said.
(Staff writer Samantha Huseas can be reached by phone at 505-1253 or e-mail at sam@thecabin.net)
Police maintain shooting of Carl Ray Wilson was justified
By SAMANTHA HUSEAS
Log Cabin Staff Writer
http://thecabin.net
Wednesday, January 17, 2001
E-Mail this story to a friend
By Samantha Huseas
As the formal investigation into the shooting death of Carl Ray Wilson continues, his family, as well as the Arkansas State Police, have released statements.
Wilson's brother, Steve Wilson of Fayetteville, sent the family's statement to the Log Cabin Democrat via e-mail after a brief telephone conversation in which he said his brother was no longer the man police have said he was.
Carl Ray Wilson, 60, died Friday morning at his home, east of Mayflower, as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, with assistance from the Conway SWAT team and Faulkner County Special Response Team "conducted a lawful search warrant on the residence of Carl Ray Wilson in Mayflower," according to the State Police statement.
The contents of the search warrant are not being released by officials but a copy of the warrant was apparently left with family members. They have said officers were looking for a rifle.
"A distraction device was deployed and officers announced," according to the police statement. "Upon entry, officers were fired upon by (the) suspect, defensive shots were returned. Carl Wilson was shot and died on the scene."
The police statement said Sgt. Jason Young of the Sheriff's Office "received a round from the suspect which was deflected by body armor. Officer Larry Hearn of the Conway Police Department was also injured in the exchange." Both were treated and released from Conway Regional Medical Center that morning.
"The Arkansas State Police investigation has revealed no evidence of wrong doing on the part of the Metro Swat team or any other agency," the police release concludes.
The family's statement differs from that of the police's on how entry was made. The release follows:
"Carl Wilson has been painted out to be an explosives and weapons outlaw, instead he was, in fact, a retired construction worker, father, and grandfather on disability. His favorite pastime was playing dominos.
"He cooperated with the investigation, and testified for the prosecution in the infamous Mary Lee Orsini case, in which Mr. (Bill) Buford, of the ATF, was an investigator.
"Mr. Buford was heard saying to Carl Wilson after the Orsini case, 'I'll get you.'
"The last two months Carl sold Christmas trees and pecans to the public along the roadside. Why couldn't the police have just arrested him there, if they had a surveillance team investigating him?
"Contrary to reports appearing in the papers to date, to the effect that shooting was taking place as police approached the house, the police entered at dawn, unannounced, dressed in dark clothes and black masks. The alarm clock went off and immediately there were shots fired. Did the alarm set off an already tense situation?
"The family is adamant that Carl would not have drawn or fired a weapon at any police officer, but like many, he would have defended his family against intruders, and for that he was gunned down in his own bedroom, and bled to death on his own bed.
"The family wants to know why so much force was necessary to serve a simple search warrant, for only one deer rifle and ammunition? Carl was a man who was always cooperative with any investigation, and lived a simple, open, day to day life. He has a proven history of cooperation with law enforcement.
"The family also questions why a safer method was not used, instead of jeopardizing the lives of family members and police officers? There just ought to be a better way to do these things.
"Was the Faulkner County Police Department and the SWAT team possibly mislead, perhaps used as pawns, to satisfy a personal vendetta? A lot of questions are left unanswered.
"We feel Melody Piazza (deputy prosecutor) pinpointed Carl Wilson's personality. He was an 'old outlaw reformed.'
"Any memorials for Carl Wilson may be donated to his church: Bayou Meto Baptist Church."
The State Police investigation is continuing but is not expected to take long. The Conway Police Department will also conduct an administrative inquiry, according to Sgt. Susan Wilson, and it too should not take long to conclude, she said.
(Staff writer Samantha Huseas can be reached by phone at 505-1253 or e-mail at sam@thecabin.net)
