Multiple agencies involved in pursuit
Posted on Friday, March 7, 2008
A Springdale man is behind bars after leading five law enforcement agencies through three cities during a chase Thursday that reached 70 mph.
Ricky W. Myers, 28, of 1901 Shady Grove Road, No. 34, was arrested on felony charges of flight in a vehicle from an officer, first-degree false imprisonment, seconddegree false imprisonment, aggravated assault on an officer, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana ) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Springdale, Fayetteville and Bethel Heights police officers, Arkansas State Police troopers and Washington County Sheriff 's deputies spent about a half-hour chasing Myers before Fayetteville officers ended the pursuit by deploying spike strips on North College Avenue near Lake Fayetteville, popping Myers'tires and sending his truck into a ditch.
The chase began at about 1 p.m. when officers responded to a domestic disturbance, said Sgt. Shane Pegram, public information officer for the Springdale Police Department. The caller told officers that Myers had forced his girlfriend into his truck and left.
Pegram said the incident occurred in Bethel Heights and that the callers reported Myers had headed toward Springdale. Officers attempted to stop Myers, but he continued to drive and the chase began, Pegram said.
Myers entered Fayetteville traveling south on Crossover Road, said Fayetteville police Sgt. Shannon Gabbard. He said officers deployed spike strips near the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks and managed to deflate one of the truck's tires.
Officers continued pursuing Myers south until he turned west on Joyce Boulevard. He then turned north on College Avenue and headed back to Springdale, where he led officers through several residential areas and at one point cut across a yard to avoid capture, Gabbard said. Myers eventually re-entered north Fayetteville, where he drove over another set of spike strips and ran off the road.
Police said the chase averaged 40-50 mph.
Nobody was hurt, and no accidents were caused during the chase, Pegram said.
"It went really well considering the time of day," he said.
Pegram said chases only occur when officers feel there's an imminent danger if the suspect is not caught. He said officers weigh the danger a chase causes against the reason they're chasing a suspect and make a decision.
"In this instance, we thought there was a kidnapping," he said.
He said Myers was charged with aggravated assault on an officer because at one point during the chase he steered his vehicle toward a police vehicle, making the officer feel threatened.
Myers was the only person arrested. There were two female victims in his vehicle; one of them was pregnant.
Pegram said there were no charges brought against either woman.
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