Forrest City Trusty Hit By Tranquilizer Dart

(Forrest City, AR) A  St. Francis County trusty is recovering after being shot with a  tranquilizer dart.

He was working with a Forrest City Animal Control Officer, when the tranquilizer gun went off, hitting him in the ankle.

Vanburen Hicks was rushed to the local hospital by the officer, who told News Channel Three how the accident happened.

Animal Control Officer Jarell Williams said the tranquilizer gun, belonging to Forrest City Animal Control, was loaded with a sedative dart Friday when it accidentally went off, ”I had him load the gun at the time, because it was a nuisance call about a nuisance dog that i had been chasing for a couple of weeks now.”

Officer Williams and trusty Hicks were in an animal control pickup truck with the tranquilizer gun laying on the front seat between them, “I made a sudden stop at the intersection of Washington and Broadway. And when I  made the sudden stop the tranquilizer gun fell to the floorboard of my truck. And when it fell to the floorboard of my truck, it discharged.”

The dart hit Hicks in the ankle sending Officer Williams into action.

He drove him straight to the hospital.

Williams said he’s not sure how strong the sedative was in the dart, but it quickly took effect on Hicks, “When we got to the hospital, then that’s when he was acting in a sedated mode. But when he got his medical attention he seemed that he was doing alright.”

Hicks was treated and allowed to go home.

Animal Control Officers frequently get reports of vicious dogs roaming Forrest City  streets so the tranquilizer gun is always kept close by.

Officer Williams said what happened Friday was an accident and he’s glad no one was seriously hurt, “The trusty is actually doing pretty good. I go visit him everyday I can and we sit and talk.”