VIDEO: Pickup Goes Airborne, Crashes Into Tractor-Trailer During Jackson County ASP Pursuit

JACKSON COUNTY, Ark. — A traffic stop near Interstate 57 turned into an approximately 10-minute pursuit that exceeded 90 mph before a pickup hit a culvert, went airborne and crashed into a parked tractor-trailer in rural Jackson County, according to police and court records.

Trooper Grayson Russell reported he was conducting traffic enforcement on I-57 near the 95-mile marker about 10:42 a.m. June 1 when he noticed a black 2006 GMC Sierra behind his cruiser failing to maintain its lane. Russell also reported the driver was not wearing a seat belt as the pickup passed him.

Russell stopped the pickup on a field road just off State Highway 37, west of the interstate, and identified the driver as Troy Garrett Alexander, 42, of Cash.

A probable-cause affidavit filed in July states a check through the Arkansas Crime Information Center showed Alexander was on active probation supervision, had a search waiver on file and had a suspended driver’s license. A check of the Arkansas license plate displayed on the truck showed it was fictitious and did not match the vehicle, according to the affidavit.

As Russell got out of his patrol vehicle to approach the pickup again, Alexander allegedly drove away. The affidavit states the pursuit continued for approximately 10 minutes across field roads, gravel surfaces and paved highways.

Alexander allegedly reached speeds exceeding 90 mph during the pursuit. The original incident report states the pursuit traveled across Jackson County roads 81, 82 and 74 before returning to Road 82.

There, the pickup left the roadway, struck a driveway culvert and became airborne. It traveled several hundred feet before colliding with a parked tractor-trailer on private property. The affidavit states the crash occurred approximately 105 yards from an occupied residence.

Debris from the crash was scattered across the roadway. Russell said his cruiser struck a large piece of debris, damaging its undercarriage. He also reported the cruiser’s windshield was broken by rocks coming from the pickup during the pursuit.

ASP estimated the damage to the cruiser at $2,378 and planned to request restitution through the prosecuting attorney’s office.

According to the incident report, Alexander got out of the wrecked pickup and began walking toward Russell. The trooper said Alexander got on the ground but repeatedly turned toward him and tried to roll over while disobeying commands to face away.

Russell reported placing a knee in the center of Alexander’s back and using a Taser in drive-stun mode against the right side of his back. The trooper said Alexander then complied, placed his hands behind his back and was handcuffed.

Newport Fire Department EMS transported Alexander to St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. The incident report states an emergency room doctor released him with a broken nose attributed to the crash. An examination of his back found no injuries or marks from the Taser deployment, according to the report.

After his release, Alexander was taken to the Jackson County Detention Center.

The probable-cause affidavit alleges fleeing, resisting arrest, reckless driving, speeding more than 15 mph above the limit, driving on a suspended license, fictitious tags or improper use of registration, failure to maintain control, a registration certificate violation, no seat belt, no liability insurance and failure to register a vehicle with expired tags.

The original incident report also listed two failure-to-appear violations, one involving a Class A misdemeanor and the other involving a Class C misdemeanor.

The affidavit states Alexander is subject to enhanced penalties based on four or more previous felony convictions. It cites five criminal cases dating to 2014 in Craighead, Lawrence and Jackson counties.

The convictions listed in the affidavit include methamphetamine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, second-degree battery, use of a communication device and tampering with physical evidence. The most recent case cited resulted in a March 26 conviction in Jackson County for controlled-substance possession and tampering with physical evidence.

The affidavit was sworn July 13 and filed July 15 in Jackson County.

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