An Oklahoma man is facing two felony charges after exchanging gun fire with the Donley County Sheriff and a Carson County Deputy near Goodnight last Wednesday, March 27.
Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his office received a 911 call from a motorist who had been told by the subject that he had several weapons and was going to use them to harm himself and others.
The subject, later identified as 50-year-old William Earl Dance from Oklahoma City, was at the eastbound rest area near Goodnight at the time of the call. Donley County notified Armstrong County, and an Armstrong deputy responded to the scene. Sheriff Blackburn was headed toward Goodnight in case the subject left the rest area and continued east when the Armstrong dispatcher reported their deputy was being shot at.
The Armstrong deputy fell back to block eastbound traffic, and as Blackburn drove past the rest area, Dance shot at his patrol vehicle. The sheriff circled back and took a position in the entrance of the rest area as Dance continued to fire at traffic. Blackburn fired at the subject and was soon joined by Carson County Deputy J.C. Blackburn.
As Blackburn and Blackburn continued to exchange fire with Dance, Donley County Deputies blocked the westbound US 287 traffic, and a DPS trooper arrived on the scene. Dance soon surrendered and was placed under arrest by Deputy Blackburn and the state trooper while other law enforcement kept the subject under gunpoint.
Dance was booked into the Carson County Jail, which houses Armstrong County inmates, and was later arraigned by Armstrong Justice of the Peace Jana Lemons on two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Against a Public Servant, and bond was set for a total of $170,000.
The Texas Rangers are assisting Armstrong County with the investigation of the case.
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