`Jerry Springer' Guest Arrested As He Watched Episode

HOUSTON - Willie Johnson was at a relative's house in Louisiana, watching a "Jerry Springer" episode on drag queens that featured a televised battle between him and his sister.

The next thing he knew, he was being led away by police on a Texas warrant charging him with aggravated assault in last month's stabbing of his sister's common-law husband.

Houston police just happened to be on the phone with Louisiana authorities in search of Johnson when the television show was broadcast on Monday.

"My partner gave the officer a description of Johnson and the officer laughed and said, `I think he's on TV right now,' " Houston homicide Detective Brian Harris said.

Johnson was quickly arrested at his family's home in Rapides Parish in front of the relatives who had gathered with him to watch the show. Detectives were trying to determine whether he taped the show before or after the attack.

Johnson is accused of stabbing Reginald Hickman during an April 11 argument between Hickman and Johnson's sister, Veronica. Police said Johnson stabbed Hickman when he tried to prevent his sister from leaving.

Houston police had been looking for Johnson since April 16. At one point, they said, he promised to surrender but never showed up.

"When (the Louisiana officers) told us they were watching him on TV we thought, `You gotta be kidding,' " Harris said. "This definitely goes into our memorable file."