FORREST CITY, Ark. — An Arkansas State Police trooper struck a road sign and a tree while pursuing an SUV through Forrest City on Oct. 24, according to an incident report. The driver ran away after the SUV stopped, and a prosecutor approved charges the next day against the man a passenger identified as the driver.
Trooper David Bennett wrote that he tried to stop a silver Kia Sorento around 11:46 p.m. after noticing its passenger-side brake light wasn’t working. The SUV stopped on Mississippi Street after passing through the Forrest City Civic Center parking lot, then sped away as Bennett got out of his patrol vehicle, the report says.
Bennett said the SUV ran several stop signs, briefly left the road on West Buford Street and went airborne as it crossed railroad tracks. Near Hodges Street, Bennett used the front bumper of his patrol vehicle to strike the rear of the SUV. The Kia spun off the road, then drove away again.
Bennett wrote that he was looking for his radio microphone as he repositioned his patrol vehicle when he hit a road sign and then a tree. Both impacts damaged the patrol vehicle. When he turned onto Hodges Street, he saw the SUV stopped in the roadway. Bennett said he pursued the driver on foot but was unable to find him.
Two passengers were standing near the SUV when Bennett returned. He wrote that he found an Arkansas identification card near the driver’s seat bearing the name Ray Vern Thomas Jr., 27. One passenger identified Thomas as the driver, according to the report. Both passengers were released, and the SUV was towed.
The report says Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kelsey Hobbs approved charges against Thomas on Oct. 25, including felony fleeing in a vehicle, fleeing on foot, obstructing governmental operations, reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign and a vehicle lighting violation.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
SHARE THIS STORY WITH OTHERS:
Discover more from NEA Report
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
