NLR Police: Intoxicated Man with Knife Charges Toward Church Pastor
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: January 9, 2013
A North Little Rock man has been arrested after police say he held a knife and charged towards a church pastor during a Tuesday night service.
No one was hurt in the incident that happened at the First Baptist Church, near 20th & Main, just before 8:30.
Esker Martin, III, 43, was charged with carrying a weapon, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. He was being held on $800 bond at the Pulaski County Jail as of this afternoon.
Police say Martin was intoxicated. When officers arrived, they found him "stumbling around" outside and noted in their report that he smelled strongly of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes.
Police say Martin was yelling obscenities at church members gathered outside as officers began to investigate what had happened.
Church deacons told police Martin was attending the service when he jumped up and started yelling, then ran down the aisle with a knife in his hand, towards the pastor. They said he dropped the knife and was stopped by them before he could get any closer to the pulpit. The deacons then escorted Martin outside the building.
No one was hurt in the incident that happened at the First Baptist Church, near 20th & Main, just before 8:30.
Esker Martin, III, 43, was charged with carrying a weapon, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. He was being held on $800 bond at the Pulaski County Jail as of this afternoon.
Police say Martin was intoxicated. When officers arrived, they found him "stumbling around" outside and noted in their report that he smelled strongly of alcohol and had bloodshot, watery eyes.
Police say Martin was yelling obscenities at church members gathered outside as officers began to investigate what had happened.
Church deacons told police Martin was attending the service when he jumped up and started yelling, then ran down the aisle with a knife in his hand, towards the pastor. They said he dropped the knife and was stopped by them before he could get any closer to the pulpit. The deacons then escorted Martin outside the building.
