Fugitive Killed While Struggling for Officers Gun Identified by Arkansas State Police

The Bowie County Fugitive that was shot and killed while resisting recapture has been identified by Arkansas State Police as Michael D. Olson, 30, of Texarkana, Texas. His next of kin was notified this morning.

Press Release:

The Bowie County, Texas escapee who was shot by a Texarkana, Arkansas police officer yesterday [Monday, March 21st] and died at the scene during a struggle for the officer’s gun has been identified as Michael D. Olson, 30, of Texarkana, Texas.

Notification to next of kin was completed at 9:50 AM today.

Michael Olson, 30, of Texarkana, Texas was being held on felony Assault and probation violation charges.

Olson was one of the two inmates that escaped from the Bowie County Jail Annex in downtown Texarkana. The second fugitive, Wayde Land, 38, was in jail on the charges of Burglary of a Building and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

The two allegedly broke out of the facility by busting out cinder blocks from the jail annex allowing them to escape the building. They then crawled under concertina wire into the train yard where they got onto a train. The duo was spotted just before 1:00 pm on East Street in Texarkana, Arkansas.

According to a previous press release on 3/21/22:

About 1 PM today, one of the Texarkana police officers located the escapees outside 210 East Street. Subsequently, both officers approached the pair in an attempt to apprehend the escapees. While one officer was taking an escapee into custody, the second officer was met with resistance by the other inmate who began to fight with the officer and attempted to gain control of the second officer’s gun.

During the struggle the gun was fired, causing the first officer to shoot the inmate fighting with the second officer.

The body of the deceased inmate will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to confirm the cause and manner of death.

Special Agents of the state police Criminal Investigation Division are continuing to collect statements from witnesses and evidence associated with the shooting.