Video published by Arkansas State Police on June 5 shows an attempted routine traffic stop turn into a pursuit where the suspect evades police for nearly seven minutes before the suspect loses control of the vehicle and crashes.
A 4-year-old child was ejected from the car and rescued by another trooper.“I could not be more proud of the way our Troopers performed their duties that day,” Arkansas State Police Troop F Captain Rick Neill said in a statement. “The suspect’s decisions placed four innocent victims in harm’s way. At any point during the pursuit, the suspect could have stopped. He refused to stop. The danger created that day was the direct result of the suspect’s actions. Our Troopers put the lives of those children first, setting aside their own personal safety.”
Pursuit Ends After Crashing into Telephone Pole
After nearly 7 minutes of pursuit, the suspect understeers a curve in the road and skids onto a lawn. The car continues to speed before hitting a telephone pole, rolling over, and getting tangled in the wires.The press release stated that the girl was just 4 months old and had been unrestrained in the vehicle.
The second trooper then engages with the suspect, asking if passengers are conscious. The suspect said they are.
"I don't know where my baby's at!" the suspect exclaims.
"I have your baby, she's ok," replies the trooper.
The troopers then recover another young boy. The suspect raises his hands, but the troopers order him to stay in the car, noting that the telephone lines are dangerously close to him and will kill him if he touches them.
Troopers and another officer escort another young girl to safety. The two children ask if they are going to jail, which the trooper tells them that they are not. They then asked if their sibling is ok, and the trooper says she is.
The four children were taken to a local hospital and later reunited with their mother. The driver of the car, 28-year-old Tyrice Fletcher, is a convicted felon who had a defaced firearm and illegal marijuana in the car with him.
Charges Laid
Fletcher was booked into the Ouachita County Detention Center on charges of felony fleeing, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of firearm by certain persons, four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, four counts of no child passenger restraint, reckless driving, no driver’s license, no seatbelt, and improper passing on the left.“As a father, I cannot fathom a parent making the decision to drive recklessly, much less flee from law enforcement, with their children in the vehicle,” ASP Col. Mike Hagar said. “We have had a couple of pursuits recently that have rightfully appalled our Troopers and the public. I thank God the children were not injured. We feel compelled to take action to stop suspects from risking the lives of innocent children by fleeing.”