5-54-125 FELONY FLEEING
27-51-302 IMPROPER LANE CHANGE OR USAGE
27-51-201 SPEEDING
27-51-403 SIGNALS FOR TURNING
27-51-503 FAIL TO YIELD AT INTERSECTION
27-51-401 IMPROPER TURN AT INTERSECTION
27-51-304 DRIVING WRONG WAY ON ONE WAY
27-21-106 DRIVING ATV ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY
On 5/26/2024 at approximately 8:30 P.M. I (Trooper David Menotti) was sitting stationary at the weight pad on United States Highway 65 in between Eudora and Lake village.
A blue in color four wheeler passed me headed Northbound. I caught up with the four wheeler and initiated a traffic stop for ATV on the highway by activating my emergency lights.
The driver of the four wheeler looked back at me and then accelerated to speeds of 60 mph in a 55 mph zone. I toned my sirens several times and the ATV never slowed. I advised dispatch that I would be in pursuit of the four wheeler.
We continued Northbound towards United States Highway 82 for several miles and then turned onto
United States Highway 82 heading towards Mississippi. Arkansas Game and Fish observed the pursuit and got behind my patrol vehicle. Once they joined the pursuit, I positioned my patrol car in front of the four wheeler in an attempt to slow the four wheeler down.
The four wheeler turned off its lights and made a 180 degree turn and headed back towards Lake Village traveling west bound in the east bound lanes of traffic into oncoming traffic. Again, the four wheeler made a 180 degree turn and began traveling towards Mississippi.
I placed my patrol car in front of the four wheeler to slow it down at which time it veered into a field. Once in the field, I terminated the pursuit as there was no longer a risk to pedestrians on the roadway.
Approximately 15 minutes later, Arkansas Game and Fish advised me that they had located the four wheeler and the suspect hiding in the woods off of Ditch Bayou access road.
I placed the suspect, Derrick Ford of Kansas City, Missouri under arrest and transported him to the Lake Village jail. The four wheeler was towed by Wayne Edwards.
On the way to jail, Mr. Ford during casual conversation stated that he did not know we were allowed to chase four wheelers and that he was simply trying to get home, Derrick Ford was booked into the Lake Village jail on the charges of:
Felony Fleeing
Speeding 1-15 over speed limit
Wrong way into one way traffic
Improper lane change/usage
Signals for turning
Failure to yield at intersection
Improper turn at intersection
Driving ATV on public highway
