Man sought for questioning by Secret Service surrenders

By Associated Press

VILONIA — A man sought by authorities after he ran from Secret Service agents turned himself in late Thursday afternoon, it was reported.

Authorities had wanted to talk to Melvin Maples, 32, of Enola as they investigated someone with an apparent infatuation with one of President Bush's twin daughters, an official said.

Earlier in the day, Faulkner County Sheriff Karl Byrd said that Maples may have a gun and had recently made unusual claims in calls to the sheriff's office.

"He has called us with strange calls, 'This is [country singer] Kenny Chesney. Someone stole my tour bus.' Or, 'This is Lt. Gary Moore. I found Kenny Chesney's tour bus in a shed,"' Byrd said.

Melvin Maples

Sheriff's deputies had accompanied the Secret Service to interview the man, Byrd said.

"He had a thing for Chelsea Clinton. I don't know how he had expressed his infatuation with her, but apparently it was enough for the Secret Service to come and look at it," Byrd said.

Several police agencies took part in setting a perimeter around the a wooded area near where the man ran from police, said sheriff's Maj. Andy Shock. The Mount Vernon-Enola School was also locked down as a precaution, Shock said.