WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — A traffic stop on Interstate 55 escalated into a pursuit Jan. 18 before an Arkansas State Police trooper used a tactical maneuver to bring the vehicle to a stop, according to an incident report.
Trooper Dillion Cook reported he observed a blue Toyota Sienna traveling southbound near mile marker 5 without tag lights illuminating the license plate. When Cook activated his emergency lights to initiate a stop, the vehicle changed lanes, accelerated above the posted speed limit and began fleeing.
According to the report, the vehicle reached high speeds while traffic was present and swerved across both lanes as it continued southbound.
Cook wrote that he determined the vehicle was being driven recklessly and positioned his patrol unit for a Tactical Vehicle Intervention near mile marker 2. The maneuver was successful, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and become stuck in a ditch.
Two males exited from the front seats and fled on foot. Trooper First Class Dairren Evans pursued the driver for approximately 150 yards before taking him into custody. He was identified as Victoriano Salez.
State police reported that Salez either did not know or would not provide his date of birth, preventing troopers from confirming his identity or completing a breath test at the jail. Jail records list Salez as 20 years old, though a confirmed date of birth was not provided in the state police report.
Troopers noted Salez had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of intoxicants on his breath at the time of arrest.
West Memphis Police Department officers responded to assist and attempted to locate the front-seat passenger who fled, but were unsuccessful.
The back-seat passengers were identified as Domingo Ernesto, 39, and Audilia-Amparo Mendez, 38.
During a search of the vehicle, troopers reported finding multiple open containers of alcohol throughout the vehicle, including beer bottles and cans in each seating area.
Salez was transported to the Crittenden County Jail, where he remained incarcerated as of Feb. 11.
Salez faces charges including fleeing in a vehicle, fleeing on foot, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated first offense, refusal to submit to a chemical test, obstructing governmental operations, driving with a suspended or revoked license or registration, no driver’s license, no liability insurance and defective vehicle lighting.
Ernesto and Mendez were each charged with drinking in public or on a highway and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
On January 18th, 2026, I, Trp. Dillion Cook #295 observed a blue Toyota Sienna (LPN-TN BSY2403) traveling southbound on Interstate 55 with no vehicle tag lights shining on the plate. I initiated my patrol unit’s lights to make a traffic stop at mile marker 5 on Interstate 55 for the violation. The vehicle quickly made a lane change to the left lane, increasing its speed over the posted speed limit and fleeing.
The vehicle reached speeds above the posted speed limit with traffic present on the roadway while swerving across both lanes. The vehicle continued to drive at a high rate of speed showing no signs of stopping. At this time, I deemed the suspect vehicle was driving reckless and needed to be stopped before involving an innocent third party. I positioned my patrol unit for a Tactical Vehicle Intervention at mile marker 2 which was successful. This caused the vehicle to exit the roadway to the right. The vehicle then became stuck in the roadside ditch.
As the vehicle came to a stop, two Hispanic males exited the driver and front passenger seats and began fleeing on foot south of the vehicle. TFC. Dairren Evans #573 began chasing the driver of the vehicle on foot for about 150 yards before catching the driver that was later identified as Victoriano Salez. It was later discovered that Victoriano Salez did not know or would not tell us his date of birth. Due to this we could not identify him or run the breathalyzer at the jail. Since his date of birth is unknown, all dates filled in with “01/01/2001” on these documents are just being used to complete and submit the form.
SALEZ had bloodshot and watery eyes with slurred speech. SALEZ also had a heavy odor of intoxicants coming from his breath upon initial arrest.
Passengers ERNESTO and MENDEZ had the odor of alcohol coming from their breath and had bloodshot, watery eyes. West Memphis Police Department made the scene and attempted to locate the front passenger, but it was unsuccessful. The back passengers in the vehicle were later identified as Domingo Ernesto (DOB: 08-15-1986) and Audilia -Amparo Mendez (DOB: 06-05-1987).
During the search of the vehicle multiple open containers were in and around the vehicle. Each seat in the vehicle had some sort of open alcohol container ranging from modelos to bud light.
TRP. Billy Pucket #499 transported ERNESTO and MENDEZ to the Crittenden County Jail where they were booked in. I transported SALEZ to the Crittenden County Jail where he was given the opportunity to provide a breath sample for further testing in the driving while intoxicated investigation. After reading the statement of rights form that has been translated into Spanish, SALEZ agreed to provide a sample. Due to SALEZ not providing or knowing his date of birth I was not able to run the test.
V-1 OWNER INFO:
Domingo Lopez Ernesto
1750 Morlye Street, Memphis TN 38111DAMAGE: 360 Degree damage around the outside
DAMAGE ESTIMATE: $5,500Victoriano Salez was charged with the following:
5-54-125: Fleeing in a vehicle
27-50-308: Reckless Driving
27-36-215: Vehicle Lights- defective/ improper tail lamps and reflectors
5-54-125: Fleeing on foot
5-65-103: Driving while intoxicated 1st offense
5-71-212: Drinking in public or drinking on highway
5-65-205: Refusal to submit to a chemical test
5-54-102: Obstructing governmental operations
27-19-304: Driving vehicle with license or vehicle registration suspended or revoked
27-16-602: No drivers license or license expired
27-22-104:No liability insuranceDomingo Ernesto was charged with the following:
5-71-212 : Drinking in public or drinking on highway
5-71-218: Open container containing alcohol in a motor vehicleAudilia Amparo was charged with the following:
5-71-212 : Drinking in public or drinking on highway
5-71-218: Open container containing alcohol in a motor vehicle
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