A recently released Arkansas State Police video shows a pursuit through Independence County involving speeds above 100 mph, wet pavement, and three juvenile passengers inside the fleeing vehicle.
Pursuit Details
The pursuit began at approximately 2:09 p.m. July 4 on Arkansas Highway 69 near Newark. Trooper Nick Ade reported he was parked at an Arkansas Department of Transportation pull-off east of the power plant when a white Cadillac CTS passed him. The vehicle matched the description of one associated with a driver who had an active felony warrant.
Ade pulled onto the highway about a half-mile behind the Cadillac. As the vehicles traveled west toward Newark, the trooper reported he was not closing the distance quickly enough to read the license plate. The Cadillac was initially recorded traveling 66 mph in a 55 mph zone before rapidly accelerating.
Ade activated his emergency lights and siren and notified dispatch that he was beginning a pursuit. The trooper reported reaching speeds above 130 mph on wet pavement while attempting to catch the Cadillac.
The driver, identified as Zavian Dodson, and three juvenile passengers were ordered out and detained without further incident. Investigators determined the juveniles had been seeking a ride from Newport to Batesville and were not involved in the driver’s actions.
Dodson was transported to the Independence County Detention Center and placed on a probable cause hold pending formal charges. The report lists intended charges of fleeing, first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, aggravated assault, displaying a fictitious license plate, failure to signal, no liability insurance, failure to wear a seat belt, improper passing, and failure to stop or yield.
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
