Drive by Crossbow shooting

LITTLE ROCK --A Little Rock man whose SUV was cut off in traffic was arrested after he allegedly shot at a motorist with a crossbow following a brief chase. "It was a drive-by crossbow shooting," said Steve Gilgenbach, a pitcher for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock baseball team who said he was the man's intended target. "I've never been shot at by a crossbow before."

Wayne Allen Dierks Jr., 26, posted bail after his arrest Sunday on charges of committing a terroristic act, possession of an instrument of crime, driving while intoxicated and driving on a suspended driver's license. Committing a terroristic act is a felony; the other charges are misdemeanors. An arraignment was set for Oct. 25.

Gilgenbach acknowledged cutting in front of Dierks on Interstate 630 in midtown Little Rock.

"I was merging on the highway and I had to get in, so I cut the guy off," Gilgenbach said. "He started following me, cursing at me and yelling for me to pull over."

A police report said Gilgenbach admitted to police that he made an obscene gesture toward Dierks, but he said Monday he didn't remember doing so.

Archery-crossbow hunting seasons for deer, bear and turkey began Oct. 1 so it's not extraordinary that someone might be carrying a crossbow in their vehicle this time of year.

The pursuit continued for several miles over the interstate and a city street. As the cars approached an intersection, "all of the sudden, he comes up next to me and shoots a crossbow at my car," Gilgenbach said. "It ricocheted off the back window, which shattered."

Gilgenbach called 911 and followed Dierks until the police arrived.

"I circled around and got behind him, but he pulled into a parking lot and aimed the crossbow at me again," Gilgenbach said.

After Dierks' arrest, officers found a crossbow with a scope, four crossbow bolts and a cooler containing 11 unopened beers and one opened can. Dierks registered 0.12 on a blood-alcohol test. The legal threshold is 0.08.

Gilgenbach said it will cost $400 to replace his rear window.