Saturday, November 23, 2013

TOP STORY >> Drug suspect shoots an officer during raid

A Pulaski County man who shot a Jacksonville police officer at 6:20 a.m. Friday will be charged with criminal attempt to commit capital murder.

The officer was treated and released from the hospital a few hours after the incident.

Mark Lyle Dodson, 53, allegedly opened fire on sheriff’s deputies, a Drug Enforcement Agency worker and the Jacksonville Police Department’s SWAT team when they entered 2327 Backbone Road near Cabot to search the house for narcotics.

Police returned fire to Dodson, who sustained potentially life-threatening injuries, according to Lt. Carl Minden of the sheriff’s office.

Late Friday afternoon, Dodson was still being treated at Baptist Hospital-Springhill in North Little Rock.

Minden said there would be additional charges after further investigation.

Capt. Kenny Boyd with the Jacksonville Police Department said the wounded officer’s name would be released on Monday.

“He’s going to be OK,” he added.

Dodson’s house is in a wooded area off Hwy. 5 and past the Cabot RV Park.

Backbone is a one-lane road with a dead end where the few neighbors nearby have private property and no trespassing signs posted.