WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — A Tennessee man was arrested on a felony fleeing charge after Arkansas State Police said a Ford Mustang reached about 110 mph on Interstate 40 and struck a concrete median barrier.
The incident report identifies the driver as Rico A. Tate, 25, of Lebanon, Tennessee. NEA Report obtained the state police report and video related to the Nov. 6 pursuit.
Trooper Dylan Evans wrote that he spotted the silver 2013 Mustang passing traffic rapidly on eastbound I-40 near mile marker 278 at about 6:59 a.m. Evans said the car was weaving through traffic and that he clocked it at 106 mph near mile marker 282, where the speed limit was 65 mph. He then turned on his lights and siren.
Evans said the Mustang passed traffic on the right, came within feet of hitting a sedan and a commercial vehicle, and accelerated to about 110 mph. He said the driver used the right shoulder to pass a commercial vehicle. The incident summary lists the pursuit near mile marker 283 at 7:01 a.m.
Evans said he twice tried to spin the Mustang to a stop. On the second attempt, the car spun into the concrete median barrier and was disabled. Evans took Tate into custody without incident and moved both vehicles to the shoulder to reopen traffic lanes. The report estimates damage to the Mustang at $12,000. The car was towed.
Evans wrote that he smelled marijuana while moving the Mustang. During a search, he reported finding about 7 grams of marijuana in a sunglasses case near the cup holders and about 0.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine in a plastic bag by the parking brake.
After Evans advised him of his rights, Tate said he found the bag in a Kroger parking lot and did not know what was in it, according to the report. Tate also told Evans he had been speeding because he was running out of gas.
Evans wrote that a records check turned up a Tennessee identification card for Tate and that he could not verify insurance coverage for the Mustang.
Tate was booked into the Crittenden County Detention Center on charges of felony fleeing, speeding, reckless driving, driving without a license, driving without insurance, possession of less than 4 ounces of a Schedule VI controlled substance, and possession of less than 2 grams of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, according to the report.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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