One man died Wednesday and another was arrested in his death after police say the two carjacked a pickup in Russellville and wrecked it during a police pursuit.
A news release from the Pope County sheriff's office said Mashaud Richardson, believed to be 20 years old, died at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock after he was critically injured when the black Nissan truck he was riding in overturned at high speed while being chased by Russellville police.
The pickup's driver, identified as Robert Rashaud Blake, 20, fled after the wreck but was arrested and was being held in the Pope County jail on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and fleeing, police said.
Sheriff Shane Jones said he believed that both men were from central Arkansas. A Pulaski County Circuit Court record showed Blake lived at 14318 Wimbledon Loop in Little Rock.
Pope County Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons said Blake caused Richardson's death while fleeing apprehension after being involved in the aggravated robbery. Gibbons said Wednesday that he had not yet filed formal charges against Blake.
Blake is scheduled for a bail hearing at 8:30 a.m. Friday before Pope County District Judge Don Bourne, Gibbons said. He anticipated that Blake will be arraigned in March on any charges filed against him.
According to the news release, the sheriff's office received a call about 3:25 a.m. Wednesday of a robbery and carjacking on U.S. 64 near Exit 78 of Interstate 40, the westernmost Russellville exit.
The owner of the Nissan, whose name was not released Wednesday, told sheriff's deputies that two men standing by a vehicle parked on the side of the road flagged him down. When he stopped to help them, they held him at gunpoint, took his wallet and the Nissan and drove away.
Jones said the owner of the Nissan was not hurt. He said the vehicle the two men were standing next to was stolen.
Two Russellville police officers stationed at Exit 81 on the interstate were alerted to the robbery and carjacking and saw the black pickup go by, the release said. They chased the pickup and attempted to make a traffic stop.
The pickup traveled onto I-40 and fled from Russellville police at high speed, the release said. A minute later, the driver of the pickup tried to get off the interstate at Exit 84. Because it was traveling at high speed, the pickup overturned on the exit ramp. Gibbons said Richardson was ejected from the pickup.
Blake fled from the accident scene on foot but was captured a couple minutes later, police said. He was taken to Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville with injuries suffered in the accident, the release said.
He was treated and released from the hospital and turned over to the sheriff's office.
There was no additional information about the accident available Wednesday. Bill Sadler, spokesman for the Arkansas State Police, said the agency was investigating the accident but that no information would be released until the investigating trooper's report was finished.
State Desk on 01/07/2016