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Jonathan Allen Garrett Courtesy HCSO -
John Brian Beadle, Courtesy
A 30-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested at 7:54 p.m. Thursday on Interstate 30 east at State Highway 67 on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Deputies were dispatched to a road rage incident in progress involving Hopkins County resident and off-duty Dallas County Constable John Brian Beadle. He continued to follow the subject, Jonathan Allen Garrett, and dispatch continued apprising deputies of the location. The subject and Beadle both exited the interstate at mile marker 120, where Investigator Wade Sheets was parked.
Sheets reportedly followed both vehicles until they reached marked units. Garrett’s vehicle reportedly went over the overpass, turned back toward Interstate 30 and pulled into the first driveway. Sheets reportedly turned on the red and blue lights of his unmarked vehicle, exited and identified himself. Sheets alleged that when he announced, “Sheriff’s Office,” Garrett opened his center console and placed a pistol inside, then put his hands up. Garrett reportedly complied with Sheets’s verbal instructions for exiting the vehicle.
Beadle reportedly assisted with the arrest as he was the only other officer there at the time. Garrett alleged Beadle was swerving on the roadway and almost sideswiped Garrett. He reportedly explained he carries a pistol in his vehicle due to other people’s road rage. Garrett reportedly said he removed the pistol from his console, held it up so Beadle could see it and placed it on top of his lunch box.
Beadle alleged Garrett forced Beadle out of his lane, then was driving slow in the right lane. Beadle reportedly passed Garrett on the left, and Garrett passed Beadle, displaying the firearm while passing.
Bond was set at $30,000, and Garrett was released Friday, arrest and jail reports read.
“That could have been my wife and kids coming home from Greenville shopping, or an elderly person he [allegedly] pulled a gun on,” Beadle told the News-Telegram. “We’re on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week… as a Texas peace officer we swore an oath to the state of Texas… whether it be in my home county or traveling home, I’m still going to uphold the law.”
Reporter Taylor Nye contributed to this story.