Arkansas trooper goes full Dukes of Hazzard...

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From the report of Trooper Shawn Ellis, lightly edited for clarity: On April 10, 2020, at approximately 6:40 AM, Troop H dispatch advised that Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office was requesting assistance with a pursuit. Deputies were pursuing a black pickup, driven by Justin Battenfield, which had recklessly driven through several traffic lights without stopping and was passing traffic on the shoulder of U.S. 71. The pursuit of Battenfield has been initiated in the area of Ingersoll Circle and U.S. 71 at approximately 6:36 AM by a Forest Service Ranger. At approximately 6:53 AM, I checked In-Service with Troop H Dispatch and traveled towards U.S. 71 from State Highway 45. At approximately 6:54 AM, at the intersection of State Highway 45 and U.S. 71, I joined the pursuit as it traveled north on U.S. 71, soon becoming the lead vehicle in the pursuit. While pursuing Battenfield, he traveled through several traffic lights and passed multiple vehicles while driving on the shoulder before turning east onto Zero Street. This particular section of Zero Street (SH255) is a four-lane roadway, divided by a continuous center turn lane and was at the peak of a hill crest. In the area of 66th Street, the pickup began crossing into the westbound traffic lanes meeting traffic at a high rate of speed. After I relayed the suspect’s actions to Troop H Dispatch, Sgt. Brandon Margis advised that due to Battenfield’s extremely reckless driving, and lack of due regard for the safety of the public that I needed to get the pickup stopped immediately. I then attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. While executing the PIT, my unit collided with the passenger side of the suspect vehicle. As a result, both vehicles traveled off the roadway and into the east side ditch. Battenfield’s vehicle collided with a driveway culvert while overturning and my unit went airborne as it traveled over Battenfield’s vehicle. Battenfield sustained fatal injuries and I sustained multiple serious injuries." This is the complete pursuit footage.
 
Should have never happened. Let it go, collect traffic cam video and get him later. This doesn't sound justifiable. For a class A fleeing felon? I'm all in.
 
Should have never happened. Let it go, collect traffic cam video and get him later. This doesn't sound justifiable. For a class A fleeing felon? I'm all in.
But until you stop him, you just don't know

Thats why whenever I don't want to get pulled over, I make sure I stop at stop sings, don't speed and don't run red lights


Like I said before, this was a lousy hill to die on, but this whole thing got set in motion by the guy in the truck
This was a 20 mile chase, you know how many options he's had to pull over and end it, on a 20 mile stretch?
 
Let it go, collect traffic cam video and get him later.

Who flees for some 20/30 minutes at speeds up to 109mph, for a red-light violation.
You think this bad guy was a first-timer?
That boy was bad, and I for one applaud the man who got him off the road without anyone else getting hurt. Job well done.
Now, I hope we get the rest of the story some day.
 
You are absolutely right about the hill. Still not worth it unless you know you are chasing a class A felon. If that truck would have hooked left and killed (possible) any of the oncoming innocent people coming at it head on. Someone's Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother, a Baby. Maybe someone from your family or friend pool. Ease up and or let it go. You'll get him. Traffic cams, facebook posts, license plates. You do know the liberal *** judge is just going to go ahead and let him out anyway. Leave the ego's out of it. I want the bad guys too but not at a price that cant be paid. If you knew the sentences that most of these guys get these days. Less than 30 days for a stolen vehicle (we use to hang horse thief's). Heck some comments are "that why you pay insurance" or "yeah, we'll come take the report for your insurance".
 
Well, whatever he was running from (and I agree, it has to be more than just mistakingly running a red light)...he won't be doing any more.
 
Should have never happened. Let it go, collect traffic cam video and get him later. This doesn't sound justifiable. For a class A fleeing felon? I'm all in.

In this case I disagree. The description of "what he had been doing", speeding and running lights, shows he was already endangering others. There are some chases I believe should have been abandoned. This does not seem like one of 'em to me.

By the way the **** he did running from the PD MADE HIM a felon on the spot
 
The idiot in the pick up truck is the one who put everyone on those highways lives in danger. Good riddance.
 
CA would have just followed him with a helo as well as every other news chopper in the area. Should have called in a National Guard AH-64 and put a few 30mm's through the bed at that point to disable him. High speed chases are dangerous to everyone so LAPD stopped using them. Can't outrun a chopper. Many high speed chases here are not murderers, just punks joyriding to get street cred when they are back in jail.
 
I wouldn't want to be in the police's shoes. What if he keeps endangering after the pursuit is ended because of the threat to public safety? Or, if they maintain pursuit, how many people get injured or killed?


Thats why whenever I don't want to get pulled over, I make sure I stop at stop sings, don't speed and don't run red lights
You know you're supposed to drive that way all of the time. :poke: :rolleyes:
 
If he didn't die in the accident, there should have been a public stoning by the civilian drivers endangered.
Yea, I'll cast the first stone.
 
You know you're supposed to drive that way all of the time. :poke: :rolleyes:

sure but sometimes im in a hurry and forget my wallet at the house (just an example, i dont have to point out i left the pants my wallet is in at the house too)
and so im driving without a license, or ID on me

that makes traffic stops more complicated, so in that situation, i do even better then normal
 
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