Gentry traffic stop leads to felony firearm charge

Police assist sheriff with hostage incident.

GENTRY - Curtis A. Severn, 50, of rural Gentry, was arrested following a routine traffic stop on Sunday and subsequently charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to police reports, Severn was driving a Chevy S-10 pickup truck and allegedly failed to make a complete stop at the intersection of Fourth Street and South Collins.

Severn was issued a warning for failing to stop at a stop sign and was issued a citation for driving on a suspended driver’s license, according to police reports.

In an inventory of the vehicle prior to towing, police discovered a single-shot .410 shotgun behind the seat. Also discovered in the vehicle inventory, according to reports, was a plastic bag and bottle with a white pasty substance inside.

As a result of the inventory, Severn was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to police, additional charges may be filed, pending lab analysis of the white pasty substance found in Severn’s pickup truck.

Domestic Disturbance

At approximately 9 p.m. on April 2, police responded to a physical disturbance at 1104 South Gentry Blvd.

According to reports, police were called because Justin Delano, 26, allegedly attacked his brother and was choking him in the front yard.

The fight, according to police reports, occurred in a dispute over lighting the pilot light on the water heater. Alcohol was also reportedly a possible factor.

As a result of the disturbance, police have requested a warrant for Justin Delano, charging him with the offense of domestic battery in the third degree, reports state.

Hostage Negotiations

According to a sheriff’s office press release, on Sunday, March 31, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office hostage negotiation team responded to 23123 Cripps West Road near Gentry, for a hostage situation.

Deputies were notified at approximately 12:15 p.m. that Gary Sewell was holding his family hostage in a barn, the release states.

According to the release, a perimeter of the residence was set up with the assistance of the Gentry Police Department and negotiations were started over Sewell’s cell phone. Negotiator Deputy Diane Spain spoke with Sewell for approximately an hour and 15 minutes before he was apprehended without incident.

During the negotiations, Spain was able to keep Sewell calm and occupied as deputies made their way through approximately 400 yards of open fields and woods to his residence, the release states.

Sewell was walking around his property with a scoped rifle and complained about all the fire trucks and police cars parked out on the road.

Spain learned from Sewell that his wife was with him in the barn and his children were in the house. Sewell said goodbye to his kids and told Deputy Spain he was ready for all of it to be over, the release states.

Sewell’s wife was able to escape from the barn and join her children in the home. Once Spain informed deputies on scene that Sewell was back in the barn, they made forced entry into the home and moved the family to safety.

Sewell was arrested approximately 15 minutes later, unarmed, in front of his barn, the release states.

It was later learned that Sewell had called a relative and threatened suicide. One of Sewell’s family members came to the property to check on him but left when Sewell pointed a rifle at him.

Sewell was still being held Monday in the Benton County Jail and faces felony charges of terroristic threatening, false imprisonment and aggravated assault.

The Sheriff’s Office thanked the Gentry Police Department and Central Communications for their assistance with the call.

News, Pages 1 on 04/10/2013