Guest
Atkins, Arkansas The Conway Police Department called into State Police that they were in pursuit of a 2015 black Ford Mustang that was stolen from their city. Conway PD and the stolen vehicle merged on I-40 west and requested help from the State Police. Conway PD lost sight of the vehicle at the 117 mile marker and called the pursuit off. The State Police, Conway County Sheriff’s Department, and the Morrilton Police Department were set up in various locations waiting for the vehicle. A Highway Police officer saw it pass the 111 mile marker. The operator of the Mustang took exit 107 in Morrilton and drove north on State Highway 95. The Troop J Sergeant on duty (J-5) saw the vehicle take the exit and called in that he was now in pursuit of the vehicle. J-5 lost sight of the Mustang near Lake Overcup on State Highway 95. After a period of time, the stolen Mustang appeared in Morrilton near Walmart, and Morrilton PD called in and they were now pursuing the vehicle. They merged onto I-40 and drove west. I was set up across from the 94 exit at an abandoned Taco Bell in Atkins on State Highway 105. The operator of the Mustang took exit 94 and drove north on State Highway 105. At approximately 6:03 pm I told dispatch I was now the lead vehicle in the pursuit. We turned left onto State Highway 124 and drove west. We reached speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour. The operator of the mustang was driving reckless, swerving, and driving left of center. We turned left onto Upper Pine Ridge Rd and traveled east. We turned right onto Lower Pine Hill Rd. While in pursuit on this road the suspect locked up his brakes, and I was unable to stop in time. The front of my unit collided with the rear of the suspect vehicle. We came to a T intersection at the end of the road (Lower Pine Hill Rd and State Highway 326 junction) where the suspect locked up his brakes again, and I wasn’t able to stop in time. The front of my unit collided with the rear of the suspect vehicle. Both impacts were minor, and there was little to no damage to the rear of the suspect vehicle. J-30 was set up at the end of the road to the east on State Highway 326. The operator of the Mustang turned right and attempted to travel west on State Highway 326. J-30 executed a PIT maneuver. The operator of the Mustang lost control of the vehicle, before he could regain control, I made a lawful intentional intervention of the vehicle. I pinned the vehicle in a ditch with the front of my patrol unit. The front of my unit collided with the driver’s side door, disabling the Mustang and ending the pursuit. We had the suspect in custody and he was asked “was it worth it”. He replied nonchalantly that he was going to jail anyways and figured why not keep going. He would never have the opportunity to drive a car like that again.
