Izard County man eats several bags of mushrooms, claims to be Jesus Christ while making threats to salon workers

A man faces multiple charges in Izard County after consuming multiple bags of psychotropic mushrooms and claiming to be Jesus Christ while threatening the lives of multiple individuals and threatening several stylist at a local salon.

According to an affidavit for 35-year-old William Hurst, on March 8, deputies were dispatched to the Lacrosse Cutoff Salon after being advised Hurst was allegedly on his way to that location and had made several threats of death or serious bodily harm toward the complainant’s family.

While in-route to the salon, dispatch notified the officers of another call for help involving a man at the Prime Cutz Salon who was behaving erratically and in a threatening manner toward the females at the salon.

Due to the totality of the situation, the officers redirected to the new location believing the subject would be the same from the initial call.

When they arrived on scene, officers confirmed Hurst was the male subject.

An employee of the salon met with Chief Investigator Geoffry Watts and Investigator Tyler Webb outside near the back entrance of the business.

The employee was visibly shaken by the incident and stated Hurst was inside the business with another woman.

Hurst had been inside for approximately 15 minutes prior to law enforcement arriving and was behaving erratically, cursing, talking about killing people all while proclaiming to be Jesus.

Officers entered the building and saw Hurst speaking to a woman who appeared to be visibly startled.

When officers engaged Hurst and asked his name he exclaimed, “Jesus Christ. I am here to spread love, so you know, like what the f***.”

Hurst was asked to step outside to visit with officers further. As the officers continued to speak with Hurst, he insisted he was Jesus and continued to make numerous statements indicating he was in a severely altered mental state. While Webb stepped inside to speak with the workers at the salon, they provided more details about Hurst’s behavior prior and provided written statements.

Hurst was then placed under arrest without incident and provided verbal consent to search his vehicle.

With Hurst present, the vehicle was searched and numerous empty packages of psychotropic mushrooms were located.

Recipets were also found in the vehicle revealing Hurst had purchased dozens of these packages earlier in the day and had consumed them all since the time of purchase, which was only hours before.

“It should be noted that while these particular psychotropic drugs were purchased legally in Missouri, they are illegal in the State of Arkansas and are classified as a Schedule I controlled substance,” the affidavit stated. “It should also be noted that the only thing that remained in Hurst’s vehicle at the time of the search was empty packaging, not any of the actual drug.”

Hurst was transported to the Izard County Detention center and his vehicle towed from the property.

Watts and Webb then met with other parties involved in the case at the Izard County Sheriff’s Department.

One of the parties, Brittany Jones said she’d received a call from Jesse Ball who said Hurst had threatened to kill him and not to answer the door if Hurst showed up at their residence.

Jones said she walked outside of the residence a short time later and Hurst began approaching her but never entered the house.

Hurst continually tried to persuade Jones to go inside the residence but Jones was able to convince Hurst to follow her to the Lacrosse Cutoff Salon instead. Jones said it was because she was afraid and would feel safer in a public place and knew she would be able to call for help once in her vehicle driving.

Jones stated she left and Hurst was following her in his truck but then passed her at a high rate of speed and traveled out if sight.

While speaking with Ball, it was explained he had known Hurst in the past but had not seen him in years. He’d received a text from Hurst that morning in reference to plumbing questions. He responded to the questions in normal fashion and a few hours later, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Hurst began sending texts that didn’t make sense and began making threats.

Hurst began calling Ball “Judas” and telling him that “betting against God will work against ya.” Hurst also stated “I could take everything you have.. I won’t even feel bad about it because you’re a Judas.. you and your brother.. I can’t live in a reality where you exist.. I’m Jesus bro.. to oppose me… FUNNY GOOD LUCK”.

Hurst continued with his threats stating, “I will end you.. it will feel good too… invite everyone.. to watch your end.”

Ball said he took Hurst’s statements as a threat to his and the lives of his family.

Officers then spoke to Josh Ball, who said he was made aware Hurst had made threats to kill his brother Jesse. Shortly after being made aware, he was informed that Hurst was at his home and at this time Jesse and Josh headed back toward their homes in fear that Hurst was going to act on the threats he had made.

While speaking to John David Burrow, authorities learned his brother Aaron Burrow received a call while John and Aaron were together from Hurst who said “I think today is a good day to go kill Josh and Jesse Ball” before proceeding to ask Aaron who his favorite cousin was and asking John which of his children were his favorite.

After hearing the names given, Hurst made statements about sending the cousin and child to heaven immediately.

The brothers took this action as a serious threat and traveled to their respective homes to check on their families. John also contacted the Ball brothers to warn them as well.

As a result, Hurst is facing four counts of felony terroristic threatening in the first degree, a class D felony, one count of criminal trespass, a class C misdemeanor and disorderly conduct, a class C misdemeanor. Bond for Hurst has been set at $25,000.