The city of Marianna declared a state of emergency for 52 hours due to increased gun violence. With consultation from the Marianna Police Department, city council, Arkansas State Police, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, the city of Marianna was put under a 52-hour state of emergency from March 29 at 8 p.m. until March 31 at midnight.
“This decision was not made lightly but is essential to ensure the safety and security of all residents of Marianna,” the mayor of the approximately 7,300 population town said in a address to residents. “The rise in gun-related incidents poses an immediate threat to the welfare of our community, and this measure is necessary to address the crisis immediately.” While the address didn’t state which gun-related incidents it referred to, Region 8 News reports this comes after Marianna officers responded to about 10 shooting incidents in the last month, most caused by teens and young adults.
Under the state of emergency, residents were required to abide by a mandatory curfew between 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Public gatherings were also prohibited. The mayor also said there would be an increased presence of law enforcement patrolling the city during the weekend. Although the state of emergency is lifted, some residents commented on the police department’s Facebook curious to know what other solutions the city will have beyond the weekend curfew.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI