Florida man arrested near Bush ranch

© 2000

By BRIAN GAAR and TOMMY WITHERSPOON Tribune-Herald staff writers

A Florida man was in jail Sunday after driving a car containing firearms near President-elect George W. Bush's Crawford ranch Saturday evening.

The suspect, John Michael Hughes, 29, of Pensacola, Fla., was driving a car near Prairie Chapel Road and Rainey Road at about 6 p.m. Saturday, said Sheriff Larry Lynch.

He was arrested by Deputy Terry Fuller, who is assigned to Bush's security detail.

Lynch said Fuller was at the ranch that evening, but didn't know if Bush was there at the time. Bush's motorcade left Crawford Sunday morning to return to Austin.

The sheriff wouldn't go into the specifics of Hughes' arrest.

"All the details of that, we can't make public at this time," Lynch said.

Hughes apparently didn't take the entrance to Bush's ranch, Lynch said. No shots were fired and there were no reported injuries.

The number of guns retrieved from the vehicle is still being investigated.

Authorities said Hughes was alone. What he was doing in Crawford remains unknown, Lynch said.

"We don't know yet," the sheriff said. "Everything is still under investigation at this point."

Hughes was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor, and remained in the McLennan County Jail Sunday evening in lieu of $10,000 bond, officials said.

An employee at Bush's press office in Austin wouldn't answer any queries Sunday evening.

Brian Gaar can be reached at bgaar@wacotrib.com or at 757-5751.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2000