Arkansas inmate flees court in deputy's vehicle, later arrested, sheriff's office says

An Arkansas jail inmate fled court Friday morning in a sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle, traveling at a high rate of speed for around 12 miles before authorities were able to arrest her, authorities said.

Necolle Speaks, 24, of Van Buren was appearing in circuit court on numerous charges when a sheriff's deputy stepped away from her. She then walked out the back door of the Crawford County courthouse, a spokesman for the Crawford County sheriff's office said.

Court records show Speaks had a pretrial hearing set for 9 a.m. before Circuit Judge Mike Medlock on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, first-degree terroristic threatening and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Chief Deputy James Damante of the sheriff's office said Speaks then tried to enter several vehicles parked outside the building, eventually finding one unlocked sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle with the keys still in its console.

A short time later, he said, authorities saw Speaks in the vehicle, and a high-speed chase was initiated, with speeds at times reaching around 90 mph.

Damante said Speaks at one point was stopped while traveling northbound on Arkansas 59 before she "stepped on the gas" and veered toward a sheriff's deputy, narrowly avoiding him.

Speaks then drove eastbound on Interstate 40 before the Arkansas State Police performed a pit maneuver near the Alma exit that sent the vehicle into a wooded area, according to authorities.

The sheriff's office said Speaks was then arrested and taken back to the Crawford County jail, where she remained as of Friday afternoon.

Damante said an investigation is ongoing into the inmate's escape. He declined to comment on whether the sheriff's office is also looking into potential actions against sheriff's deputies involved.

Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

ADVERTISEMENT

More headlines

Upcoming Events