By Bonnie Culverhouse
A quick-thinking diner at a restaurant on Hwy. 531 may have helped save lives when he dialed 9-1-1.
Wesley Barnes, 37, of the 300 block of E. Roosevelt Dr., Minden, was arrested by Minden Police for terrorizing and a probation and parole hold.
Chief Steve Cropper said around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Off. Kayla Little was dispatched in reference to a subject yelling that someone was trying to kill him as he entered the restaurant.
“Off. Dison was already speaking with Barnes when Off. Little arrived on the scene, so she spoke to the witness who called,” Cropper said. “The caller said while he was eating with his family, Barnes entered and was acting very strange.”
Barnes reportedly was out of breath and “drenched in sweat” when he sat at a table. The witness said Barnes then rose and exited the restaurant for a short time.
“Then he came back in and yelled for everyone to sit down,” said the chief. “Then he said someone was trying to kill him and would be coming inside to find him. It was at that point, the diner called 9-1-1 as he feared for the safety of his family and the rest of the civilians inside.”
Barnes reportedly ran back outside, crossed the highway and ran into the woods, still saying “They’re going to kill me.”
“He came back to the restaurant again as the caller and his family were trying to leave,” Cropper said. “He asked them to stay until the police arrived.”
Sgt. Mitch Hackett reportedly arrested and mirandized Barnes and transported him to MPD for holding before transfer to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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