Police: Man flees, spurs chase in Little Rock

After fleeing from a central Arkansas police officer Monday, a man in a pickup evaded state troopers in a high-speed chase along two interstates until he was stopped in Little Rock, police said.

Around 7:30 p.m., a North Little Rock police officer tried to pull over a black Ram truck for failing to use a turn signal at the Counts Massie Road and Maumelle Boulevard intersection, according to a police report.

The vehicle instead continued onto Interstate 430 south, accelerating to "well over 120 mph" in moderate traffic, the report said.

The officer then saw a black handgun being tossed out of the vehicle and onto the Arkansas River bridge, authorities said, noting that the high speeds during the chase showed the driver was exhibiting "extreme indifference to the value of human life."

The officer then stopped pursuing the truck, based on department policy. North Little Rock officers are ordered to stop following a fleeing vehicle for several reasons, including when there is "clear and unreasonable danger to the officer, fleeing suspect or any other persons."

Arkansas State Police troopers then took over the chase and followed the Ram south on I-430 then onto Interstate 630, according to the police report.

The fleeing driver tried to ram a patrol car driven by Trooper Christina Johnson as she tried to box it in several times, according to the report.

When the truck exited onto John Barrow Road, troopers used an "intervention technique" that disabled the vehicle, the report said.

The driver was identified as 41-year-old James Arnold of Helena.

He faces charges of fleeing and aggravated assault and is being held at the Pulaski County jail without bail.

ADVERTISEMENT

More headlines

Upcoming Events