A Little Rock police motorcycle was the subject of a hit-and-run accident Thursday, police said.
The wreck occurred shortly before 12:45 p.m. at Ninth Street and Interstate 30, Little Rock Police Department spokesman Lt. Steven McClanahan said.
Willie Houston III, 45, was arrested Thursday afternoon in the hit-and-run, Little Rock Police Department Officer Richard Hilgeman said. Houston was charged with felony hit-and-run, driving without a license and running a red light, Hilgeman said.
Police said Houston was driving a red, 1960s two-door Oldsmobile with antique tags that fled east on Ninth Street.
McClanahan noted it's a "pretty unique" car.
"I"m hoping that the public can help us locate this vehicle," he said, standing at the corner where the collision occurred.
The officer, identified as Steve Pledger, was "banged up" but his injuries were preliminarily believed to be non-life-threatening, McClanahan said. He said Pledger was alert and conscious before being taken to a Little Rock hospital, though he said he did not have details on the full extent of the injuries. Pledger is a 31-year vet of the department with 23 years on the motorcycle unit.
McClanahan said he had no specifics on how the collision occurred. It happened on Ninth Street on the west side of I-30.
"Whether it be a hit-and-run involving an officer or a citizen, I don't know why you would flee the scene," McClanahan said. "I mean, there always could be underlying issues, but again, I would say whenever you flee the scene regardless of whether you hit an officer, you're going to get jammed up if you are caught and will be arrested."
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