HARRISBURG, Ark. (AP) -- A man charged with killing a police officer during a traffic stop in northeast Arkansas has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and several other charges.
Attorneys for Jerry Lard entered the plea on his behalf Friday in a Poinsett County Jail courtroom in Harrisburg. Lard is charged in the shooting death earlier this month of Trumann Officer Jonathan Schmidt after Schmidt stopped a car in which Lard was a passenger.
About a dozen relatives and friends of Schmidt sat silently in court before Lard was returned to the jail. He's due back in court July 22.
Lard is charged with capital murder, attempted capital murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine.
His attorneys didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)