JACKSON COUNTY, Ark. — A Jonesboro man stopped his pickup, then allegedly spun his tires and drove away as an Arkansas State Police corporal opened his patrol car door during a Sept. 18 encounter on Interstate 57.
The driver, identified in an ASP incident report as Malachi J. Beason, 21, was arrested after Cpl. Jeff Richardson used a tactical vehicle intervention that caused the pickup to rotate clockwise. Beason regained control before stopping on the right shoulder, according to the report.
Richardson wrote that he was patrolling northbound at 4:59 p.m. when he clocked a southbound pickup at 90 mph in a 75 mph zone. After the truck passed, his rear radar showed it traveling 88 mph.
The corporal turned around near mile marker 92 and caught up with the pickup just north of the exit at mile marker 87. The report identifies the vehicle as a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado.
Beason abruptly took the exit ramp and began to stop, but continued down the ramp, according to Richardson. The report alleges he failed to stop at the stop sign at Jackson County Road 43, turned left, then made another left onto the northbound entrance ramp.
Richardson wrote that Beason drove a complete circle around the area separating the ramp from the interstate before continuing along the entrance ramp.
As the corporal tried to catch up, Beason abruptly braked and stopped on the right shoulder. Richardson said he instructed the driver over his patrol vehicle’s public address system to “put it in park and shut it off.”
As Richardson opened his door, Beason spun the pickup’s tires and fled, reentering the interstate northbound in the left lane, the report states.
Richardson positioned his patrol vehicle for a tactical vehicle intervention, but Beason braked, forcing the corporal to brake as well. Richardson described that as an apparent attempt to disrupt the maneuver.
The corporal then performed the intervention as the pickup continued northbound. The truck rotated clockwise, and Beason regained control before stopping on the right shoulder, according to the report.
Richardson took Beason into custody without further incident.
Richardson wrote that Beason would be charged with:
- Driving on a suspended license.
- No liability insurance.
- Speeding, 1 to 15 mph over the limit.
- Misdemeanor fleeing by vehicle.
- Owner failure to register a vehicle.
- Failure to obey a stop sign.
- Careless and prohibited driving.
The pickup was towed by Reynolds Towing of Jackson County. A hold was placed on the vehicle pending presentation of a valid driver’s license and proof of ownership, the report states.
Court records for the case are were not available as of this publication.
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