A Mountain View man is being held on a $75,000 bond after an early morning arrest on August 22 led to multiple charges, including threats against law enforcement and resisting arrest. Stone County deputies arrested Ray Leon Mings, 60, after his wife called the sheriff's office shortly after 2 a.m., reporting that Mings was intoxicated, armed with three loaded firearms, and had threatened to shoot arriving officers, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Deputies responded to the residence at 5724 Highway 9 South and found Mings passed out in the driver’s seat of his truck with the key in the ignition. Three firearms were in the truck’s bed, the affidavit stated. Officers reported a strong smell of alcohol and described Mings as uncooperative. He reportedly refused to exit the vehicle or comply with officers’ commands.
The affidavit said deputies attempted to detain Mings, but he resisted, broke free, and took what was described as “a fighting stance.” After warnings to comply were ignored, deputies said they used pepper spray to subdue him. Mings was brought to the ground, restrained, and placed into a patrol vehicle, though he reportedly continued to resist. During the encounter, authorities stated that Mings kicked one deputy in the torso and threatened to learn where he lived.
At the jail, deputies alleged Mings remained combative and had to be restrained in a chair. He also refused to sign paperwork related to driving while intoxicated and declined a chemical test. Officers later obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. During transport to a hospital for the blood sample, Mings reportedly made additional threats, including one to harm his wife once released. He allegedly repeated these threats, along with others aimed at a detention officer, upon returning to the jail.
Court documents indicate Mings has a prior criminal history that includes charges of third-degree domestic battery and interference with a law enforcement officer. He now faces 12 charges: one count each of first-degree terroristic threatening, driving while intoxicated, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, interference with a law enforcement officer, second-degree battery, and refusal to submit to a chemical test, along with five counts of attempting to influence a public servant.
Mings is scheduled to make his first court appearance on September 10.