Welfare Concern turns in to Attempted Murder Arrest

Press Release

May 14, 2013 – On May 12th at approximately 10 am, complainants came to the Tioga Sub Station to report a welfare concern that someone was possibly in jeopardy from an estranged husband. The complainant went on to explain that a family member had left a suicide note in their vehicle and had also stated he was going to kill his ex-wife.

Deputies were dispatched immediately to the location the ex-wife was staying and upon arrival deputies located the suspect, identified as Ernest Ray Williams, 47, of Pollock, LA.  Williams was in a shed armed with a semi automatic rifle he had allegedly stolen the previous day before.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident by the deputies and the rifle with over 100 rounds of ammunition was located.

From what the deputies discovered, the suspect was lying in wait in the shed, dressed in camouflage, waiting on the victim to leave the residence. The victim was secured by deputies and was unharmed and unaware that the suspect was around the residence.

Williams was charged with Theft of a Firearm, Criminal Trespass, Violation of Protective Orders, Attempted 1st Degree Murder and Cruelty to Animals.

Williams was transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center where he remains on a $500,250 bond.

“This incident could have turned out a whole lot worse if not for the family making the complaint and the quick response of our deputies to this incident.  We take every complaint like this serious.  Sometimes it is real and sometimes it isn’t.  This time, it was very real and lives were saved” said Sheriff William Earl Hilton.