VIDEO: Child Crawls Out of Overturned Car After State Police TVI in Joiner

JOINER, Ark. — A 3-year-old child crawled out of an overturned vehicle after an Arkansas State Police trooper used a tactical vehicle intervention to stop a fleeing Dodge Charger on May 2 in Joiner, according to an incident report.

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The report says Trooper Teddy Henderson attempted to stop a red Dodge Charger around 2:33 p.m. on State Highway 118 for speeding. Henderson reported he was eastbound on Highway 118 on the west side of Interstate 55 when he clocked the Charger at 80 to 81 mph in a 55 mph zone.

After crossing the I-55 overpass, Henderson activated his blue lights. The driver, identified in the report as Thalia Jones, accelerated and fled eastbound toward the Joiner city limits, according to the report.

Henderson reported he followed Jones with his lights and siren activated for nearly a mile before performing a tactical vehicle intervention. As he moved behind the Charger, the report says Jones swerved into the oncoming lane to prevent him from positioning his patrol unit for the maneuver.

Henderson then used the front bumper of his patrol unit against the rear bumper of the Charger, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway, according to the report. The Charger ran over a sign and a residential mailbox, struck the side of a residential driveway, crossed back over the road into a field and overturned, coming to rest upside down.

Henderson reported he got out with his patrol rifle and held the vehicle at gunpoint while waiting for other officers to arrive. While he waited, the rear driver’s side door opened and a 3-year-old boy came out of the overturned vehicle, the report says.

Henderson picked up the child and placed him on the hood of his patrol vehicle. Jones then crawled out of the Charger and was taken into custody, according to the report.

The child was confirmed to be Jones’ biological son and was released to an adult at the scene with Jones’ permission. Jones and the child were both cleared by EMS at the scene, the report says.

Jones was later taken to the emergency room in Osceola for medical clearance at the request of the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office. After being cleared, she was transported to the Mississippi County jail.

Jones was booked on charges of speeding more than 15 mph over the limit, reckless driving, fleeing by vehicle or conveyance, driving on a suspended license, first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime. The report states the vehicle belonged to Jones’ boyfriend.

Henderson also reported the incident to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline because a child was involved.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.