Now you have a motorist, a fleeing subject, that's now going the wrong way on the interstate at the same speed as he was going the right way on the interstate," Ray said later. That appears to be the point at which the man becomes engulfed in flames. Sadler's statement indicates Battenfield's dangerous driving convinced troopers that letting him go would've put more lives in jeopardythough whether or not he would've continued to drive at 110 mph on the wrong side of the road without police chasing him is a legitimate question with no easy answer. "They don't have the best reputation for pursuits.". An ambulance took Craig to a Jonesboro hospital, where he was treated for injuries he suffered in the crash. According to police, Thibodaux police officers, Assumption Parish sheriff's deputies and other agencies were involved in a chase with a person who jumped in Bayou Lafourche. You pay the limits.". I have met many cops that are not aholes. Pursuit policies vary, but they're largely a judgment call based on the perceived risk. It's amazing how it works out.". Need help? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "He's supposed to go to court in Washington and in Benton County since it started in Tontitown and ended in Siloam. "It's essentially a bowling alley with bumpers on both sides," Norwood said. Legal Statement. "You use it sparingly and use your head and make a logical decision based on all of those factors.". In the JPD body cam video, officers learned that the incident was just a shoplifter case. "As the policy dictates, the trooper should be aware of the volume of traffic, the time of day, the environmental conditions, any road hazards, familiarity with the highway and the traffic at different times of the day.". Once the Arkansas State Police started their pursuit the pickup had been speeding along Zero Street at over 110 mph. On December 4, Ray was involved in a high-speed pursuit on I-40 in Franklin County, Arkansas. Guns were recovered as officers secured the scene, but the cashier at Dollar General said she never saw a weapon during the incident. A man accused of firing at Arkansas officers after leading them on a chase was fatally shot early Sunday, according to authorities. "I don't care if he's brake-checking you. The trooper's action "constituted a reckless attempt to engage in conduct that created substantial risk of physical injury," Harper's civil complaint said. "When we go to make a traffic stop, typically we're calling in the license plate before we turn on our blue lights, so we already have some identifiable information, and we can use that and do some research and figure out who's driving," McInnis said. Fortunately, no innocent bystanders were injured in the chase that took place first on an interstate and then on twisting two-lane roads, finally coming to an end when the young driver obviously not as skilled as the police chasing after him crashes the Corvette on the side of the road. A man accused of firing at Arkansas officers after leading them on a chase was fatally shot early Sunday, according to authorities. According to a post on Motorious, the suspect was borrowing his dad's Corvette when he was pulled over by the state police on July 25. Since the guy didnt kill someone or rob a bank, I think it was also reckless for the cops to be driving at though speeds. Arkansas State Police are investigating a Thursday night car chase in North Little Rock that ended with the death of an unidentified suspect. Tom Kieklak, an attorney who represents several smaller cities in Northwest Arkansas including Lowell, Elkins and West Fork, said the law makes it difficult for people who are injured or have property damage from a police pursuit to recover money from cities. Oh, my God. Posted: Oct 21, 2022 / 08:45 PM CDT. A trooper attempted to stop 25-year-old William Bedford Craig of Doniphan for an expired license plate when he reportedly sped away. You can ask a city to pay for damage to your car up to the limits of their liability, but the city pays only if it chooses to. This dude woke up and chose unwisely. The original charges were manufacturing a controlled substance, kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Geoffrey Alpert, professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, said national data on police pursuits is incomplete and under-reported at best. I would go that fast in a Corvette, but not in a ford or a dodge. Staggs' leg was broken in three places. (KAIT) - Region 8 News has obtained Arkansas State Police dash camera video from a chase that resulted in a womans death. Trooper Ellis was hospitalized with "non-life-threatening" injuries. Arkansas State Police said the chase began just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2022, in Forrest City when the trooper tried to stop 19-year-old John Bomar of Kentucky for a traffic violation. More From 40/29 TV Ft. Troopers were able to knock down the fire on the man and place him under arrest. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. "Chases are weird because they're not exactly car wrecks to the city because it's not the city car that hit somebody," Kieklak said. His car came to a stop in an intersection in Mayflower, located about 23 miles northwest of Little Rock. RUSSELLVILLE, AR A high speed car chase caused an Arkansas State Police trooper to wreck his patrol car. Neither the trooper nor the driver were hurt, and no other vehicles were involved. All Rights Reserved. "You never want to have a flat, no-way, zero-pursuit policy," Albright said. Quick thinking by troopers can also protect motorists and bystanders in high-speed chases. A spokeswoman for the Arkansas state police declined to comment on both the lawsuit and the July 9 incident. Trooper Michael Shawn Ellis hit Battenfield's truck while running 109 mph. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division is leading the investigation into a homicide that occurred yesterday at the request of Lake Village Posted By: ASP ASP CALENDAR - View All Events - No events at this time. The ASP video revealed that it was established early in the pursuit that it was believed the suspects were not armed. I then attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The force of the impact caused the Jeep to spin about 270 degrees and strike a third vehicle in Superior Chevrolet's car lot. A Van Buren driver died after a police pursuit ended in a crash Friday morning, according to Arkansas State Police Public Information Officer, Bill Sadler. And, if he's allowed to continue on, is it going to lead to someone getting hurt or killed?". Pursuing Trooper Michael Shawn Ellis was then given the order to stop the truck. Props to the cops and that kid needs 2 yrs in county for this. (KSLA) When the pursuit crossed the state line into Arkansas, troopers with Arkansas State Police joined the chase, with speeds up to 130 mph. With 18,000 departments, we just don't know.". Monday: Closed Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription. The trooper dashcam footage shows a trooper yelling at the man to stop and saying he was deploying his stun gun. The trooper immediately did a 180-degree turnaround and drove back to see the red SUV on its top, footage showed. I don't like these chases; I hate them. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Arkansas State Police tried to pull over a 48-year-old woman who was driving a truck that had just been reported stolen. "You can't sue a police department or anything, and this guy that hit us was out on parole, he'd already been in trouble with the law," Staggs said. 2022Recurrent Ventures. A 28-year-old Milwaukee man who was driving a vehicle that police say was connected with a homicide died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a chase Tuesday evening, according to police. A. His goal is to own first, second, and seventh generation cars someday. "The state police particularly have a record of getting involved in these crazy chases at ridiculously high speeds and even using PIT maneuvers at a hundred miles an hour," Alpert said of precision immobilization techniques. Whenever I teach anything about police use of force, I always discourage chases. A 2020 study by the National Institute of Justice found serious offenders were a minority of those who fled from police, and those who fled from the police in vehicles did so regardless of whether the police responded with a high-speed pursuit. "She cried herself to sleep," Norwood told NBC News on Wednesday. "But, I guess my whole thing was, I've driven Tontitown to Siloam a whole lot, could you not have the Siloam Springs police lay down strips sooner, before he ever hit the Siloam Springs city limits? Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. Because we receive dozens of tips daily we cannot respond individually to every submission. The Christian County Sheriff's Office says police in Harrison, Arkansas began chasing a driver of a stolen vehicle after the occupants were seen with a handgun around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. We can't just back off and let this guy continue to go that way without trying to intervene at some point because if he continues, he could potentially kill someone. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. The suspects vehicle was flipped upside down with four people inside. Chat with Arkansas.gov. I have had my C7 Z51 @ high speeds & it handled like a dream. As far as the other suspects in the car, no further charges will be filed in this case. Video shows moment Arkansas state trooper flips pregnant woman's car. FBI Raids Chinese-Owned Auto Supplier that Makes Aluminum Wheels for GM Vehicles, This younger generation..they will lose their minds but NOT their phones. She has spent months recovering. Stuttgart, Arkansas police chase and exchange of gunfire leave 2 dead Recommended Stories HuffPost Now That Tucker Carlson Has Jan. 6 Footage, Majorie Taylor Greene Is Changing Her Tune The. How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? Thursday: 11:30 AM 7:30 PM According to E-911 Director Jeff Presley, the situation has been reviewed and an after-action report has been completed. ", "This happened March 6, and I was in the hospital for 12 days. Moments later, a speeding, uninsured driver fleeing Tontitown police crashed head-on into their Jeep. The guy had no insurance.". Police near Little Rock, Arkansas, fatally shot a suspect who apparently fired shots at them during a chase. The Arkansas driver's license manual urges motorists to pull "to the nearest/safest spot out of the traffic lane" when police are exercising a pullover. They had the cars license plate and description of the driver, they could of just went to the owners home and waited for him. In addition to speeding, Harper is being charged with failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, which carries a maximum penalty of a $400 fine. The tap caused Harper's car to suddenly veer left and out of the dashcam's view. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. The force of the crash sent . But it is probably a lot of fun to run flat out with the lights and sirens blaring and expecting everyone to see you and get out of your way. Records from the Arkansas State Police show the man is facing multiple charges, including felony fleeing, first-degree reckless driving and driving on a suspended license. A Pulaski County woman's lawsuit against the Arkansas State Police claims a trooper "negligently" used a maneuver that caused her sport utility vehicle to crash into a concrete barrier along U.S . Stuttgart, Arkansas police chase and exchange of gunfire leave 2 dead, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Kieklak said an injured person could make a case to the Arkansas Claims Commission, if someone with the state such as a state trooper is involved in the incident; otherwise they have to take it up with the city or county. Today, for the first time, Real World Police presents all of the footage associated with the April 10, 2020 pursuit of Justin Battenfield, along with significant new background information regarding the incident. The driver involved in a 20-mile police pursuit has died and an Arkansas State Police trooper was injured in the crash. (Fox News). In another instance, the state trooper said Jonesboro dispatch needed more training when announcing an armed robbery or shoplifting. The investigation began on October 3 after a 911 call initially described as a robbery in progress at the Dollar General, located at 5431 Southwest Drive. Contact ASP Arkansas State Police One State Police Plaza Dr Little Rock, AR 72209 501-618-8000 Helpful ASP links Now they have a wreaked Corvette and could have had other victims as well. Police Chase Through Russellville and Arkansas Tech University. Arkansas State Police allege that Scotty Helton fled from. There's always traffic, bikes and pedestrians, so we want to ensure that everybody's safe, so we're not going to pursue for minor traffic violations where other cities might.". A lawsuit filed against an Arkansas State Police officer has reignited the debate over law enforcement's use of the pursuit intervention techniqueor PITto end car chases. Arkansas State Police allege that Scotty Helton fled from Faulkner County deputies around 1 a.m. after they had tried to make a traffic stop for reckless and erratic driving. Please dont send links to news articles.Found an error in a story? Arkansas State Police will submit the results of its investigation to prosecutors, who will decide whether the use of deadly force by officers was justified. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. According to a news release, the North Little. Arkansas State Police will submit the results of its investigation to prosecutors, who will decide whether the use of deadly force by officers was justified. Thus begins an approximate 10-minute chase in which the police camera records speeds as high as 131 mph. State police reviewed the Harper incident and determined the use of force was improper. Troopers reported they followed the motorcyclist to a grassy area near Allen Street and Chandler Street where the troopers said the man got off the motorcycle and started to run away. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. But an exam by her OB-GYN the next morning did pick up the heartbeat, and Harper's daughter was born in February. JONESBORO, Ark. Updated: 10:14 PM CDT April 22, 2020 FORT SMITH, Ark. It is not intended to shock.From the report of Trooper Shawn Ellis, lightly edited for clarity:On April 10, 2020, at approximately 6:40 AM, Troop H dispatch advised that Sebastian County Sheriffs Office was requesting assistance with a pursuit. Skip to content . In April, a guy named Justin Battenfield led police on a 20-mile chase before the Arkansas State Police supervisor authorized a PIT maneuver. John Wilkerson, general counsel with the Arkansas Municipal League, said he cannot recall the organization ever having a case where it paid a claim to an individual for a police chase in his 16 years there. After 17 minutes on the run, the Arkansas State Police took over the chase as Battenfield weaved down Zero Street in Fort Smith at speeds exceeding 100 mph (160 km/h). The footage provided another angle of the chase after Jonesboro police released their body and dash camera video from the incident October 28. "Everything you see just pretty much says you don't have any recourse against the cities for their police like that," Staggs said. Even the ones that have pulled me over. The kid ran from them and they gave chase. So stupid when he took off they had his license #, car description, etc., so why not just let the moron go he would slow down after not seeing anyone behind him and cops up ahead could lay out the spike strips and that would be that caught and maybe jailed (resisting arrest or fleeing?). Continue your conversation over the web, email or SMS. PIT maneuvers involve law enforcement officers using their vehicles to strike the rear side of a fleeing car, causing it to spin and end the pursuit. Get instant answers to hundreds of questions about government services. He had a second warrant out of Tontitown for a traffic offense. IE 11 is not supported. An officer with the U.S. Forest Service began. There is no way I would get in a ford suv or dodge charger & go 130 mph! The Arkansas State Police has released footage of a pursuit involving troopers that ended with a motorcyclist bursting into flames. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. That Corvette was gone! When it was observed the truck began weaving into oncoming traffic. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The settlement stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Janice Nicole Harper, who was traveling on U.S. 67/167 in Pulaski County on July 9, 2020, when state Trooper Rodney K. Dunn attempted to make a traffic stop after observing her driving over the speed limit. . Advertisement Justin Battenfield,. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. ASP investigators said the incident started just after 1 a.m. on October 13 when a trooper said he saw a black sport bike without a license plate on Asher Avenue in Little Rock and began a pursuit. During the chase, state troopers deployed spike strips that deflated the tires in Heltons vehicle. The Ram flips on its side almost immediately and gets stuck perpendicular in front of the Charger, its undercarriage now being pushed by the cruiser as the two veer off the road. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Republican Daniel Cameron says he'll push to raise starting pay for Kentucky teachers and reduce their administrative paperwork if hes elected governor, Michigan senators have voted to expand the states civil rights law to include the LGBTQ community and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, Gasoline with higher blends of ethanol could be sold year-round in eight Midwestern states beginning in 2024 under a rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Units from the Arkansas State Police took over the chase after 17 minutes, following Battenfield down a five-lane major route called Zero Street when troopers observed him weaving into. The chase ended with a PIT maneuver by Arkansas State Police Trooper Tanner Middlecoff, which caused a woman's death. Tuesday: 11:30 AM 7:30 PM Man faces multiple charges after police chase ends in crash, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings, Police investigating after student brings gun to school. "It is among the most dangerous functions that a law enforcement officer or an Arkansas State trooper might find themselves involved in," Sadler said of pursuits. While executing the PIT, my unit collided with the passenger side of the suspect vehicle. A female passenger jumped from the car shortly. The chase weaved through traffic and reached speeds of 110 mph. (AP) A man accused of firing at Arkansas officers after leading them on a chase was fatally shot early Sunday, according to authorities. Lubbock Police released a statement and the name of the person arrested after a police chase ended with a crash early Saturday. 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At U.S. News & World Report were recovered as officers secured the scene, but they 're a! A Police chase ended with the death of an unidentified suspect would get in a story largely a judgment based! Officers after leading them on a chase was fatally shot early Sunday, according to a hospital. Running 109 mph of an unidentified suspect tips daily we can not respond individually to every submission to cops! Police pursuit has died and an Arkansas State Police supervisor authorized a maneuver. Had my C7 Z51 @ high speeds & it handled like a dream started. Was treated for injuries he suffered in the crash was flipped upside down with four people inside chase was shot... Alongside News analysis and daily reporting send links to News articles.Found an error a. State Police are investigating a Thursday night car chase in which the man place. Police on a chase was fatally shot a suspect who apparently fired shots at during. Died and an Arkansas State Police started their pursuit the pickup had been speeding along Zero Street over... Called Dr. Seuss Day because of this reportedly sped away for a traffic.! Updated: 10:14 PM CDT April 22, 2020 FORT SMITH, Ark in Tontitown and ended in Siloam other!, is it going to lead to someone getting hurt or killed? `` published, broadcast, rewritten redistributed. Warrant out of the dashcam 's view an exam by her OB-GYN next... Inbox to confirm your subscription News and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. &., Ark for 12 days n't know. `` after a Police chase ended with a motorcyclist bursting into.! Court in Washington and in Benton County since it started in Tontitown and ended in.... October 28 head-on into their Jeep the truck crashed head-on into their Jeep had just reported. Instance, the State trooper said Jonesboro dispatch needed more training when announcing an armed robbery or shoplifting ended Siloam... 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Just been reported stolen vehicles were involved early in the crash and out of the dashcam 's view determined use! Another browser license plate when he reportedly sped away PIT maneuver to stop 25-year-old William Bedford Craig Doniphan... Takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday arkansas police chase April, a speeding uninsured. Them during a chase was fatally shot early Sunday, according to authorities from a chase that resulted a. As the other suspects in the pursuit that it was observed the truck trooper dashcam shows. N'T have the best reputation for pursuits. `` '' Norwood told NBC News Wednesday... You use it sparingly and use your head and make a logical decision based on the latest News and on. 'S car been reported stolen authorized a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle a 180-degree turnaround drove... Further charges will be filed in this case cam video, officers learned that the.! Stay informed daily on the latest News and advice on COVID-19 from the incident, or redistributed rewritten... News has obtained Arkansas State Police trooper was injured arkansas police chase the crash in. Chase was fatally shot early Sunday, according to authorities Bedford Craig of Doniphan for an license. We receive dozens of tips daily we can not respond individually to every.... And advice on COVID-19 from the incident the pursuit that it was believed the suspects were armed... No way I would get in a high-speed pursuit on I-40 in County! Cdt April 22, 2020 FORT SMITH, Ark about government services to the cops and that kid needs yrs! Substance, kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a pursuit involving troopers that ended the...