Dodge Charger flees from TROOPER BYRD, TVI ends pursuit - Suspect attempts to damage BYRD's vehicle

Trooper Byrd's report: On October 2, 2025, approximately 5:38PM, I (TFC. Byrd) was patrolling on Interstate 630 (I630) eastbound at John Barrow when I observed a black Dodge Charger (V1) approaching me from the rear that appeared to be speeding. V1 was passing all other traffic very quickly, I activated my rear radar and received a reading of 105-mph in a 60-mph zone. After receiving this reading, I slowed down and began merging to the right from the far left lane. As I began slowing, V1 slowed even more while mirroring my lane changes. During my lane changes, I merged onto the right shoulder when I observed V1 make a u-turn on the Interstate where it began traveling the wrong way on a one-way, westbound in the eastbound lanes. V1 merged left onto the I630 eastbound on-ramp causing innocent civilians to merge onto the right shoulder to avoid being struck head-on by V1 due to his reckless driving. Once I saw V1 make this u-turn, I activated my emergency equipment, cleared the lanes of travel to my left and made a u-turn to pursue V1. V1 began traveling northbound on John Barrow at speeds in excess of 90-mph in a 35-mph zone. As V1 approached the intersection of John Barrow and Markham, V1 drove into the opposite lanes of travel, failed to obey a red light, and continued traveling northbound toward Rodney Parham. When V1 reached Rodney Parham, V1 began traveling eastbound then made an immediate right turn onto Serenity Drive. At this point, I lost sight of V1 and discontinued the pursuit. Just a few minutes later, Cpl. Ben Ibarra located V1 traveling eastbound on Markham near Mississippi Street. Cpl. Ibarra caught up to V1 near Hughes Street and initiated a traffic stop on V1. V1 immediately began to flee again. As they both approached University Ave, V1 attempted to make a u-turn to head back westbound on Markham. At this point, Cpl. Ibarra performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) brining V1 to a stop. V1 driver, later identified as Willie Smith IV, was pulled from V1. As I arrived on scene, I observed Cpl. Ibarra trying to get Smith IV into custody, but Smith IV resisted. I helped pull Smith IV off the hood of Cpl. Ibarra's patrol car to place Smith IV into custody. Smith IV continued to resist as he pulled his arms away from us and yelled. We were able to get Smith IV into custody and walk him back to my patrol car. While walking to my unit, Smith IV used his feet to kick off my bumper to avoid us from moving him. Along with that, Smith IV kicked my driver side rear door multiple times as I attempted to open it for him to be placed inside. Smith IV would not cooperate and kept using his legs to press off the rear seats to avoid being placed inside. Eventually Smith IV was pulled into the backseat. Once Smith IV was in my backseat, he began to kick my door before he noticed the rear camera system facing him. After noticing this, Smith IV started to kick the camera causing damage to the wiring and headliner of my patrol unit. Smith IV also, took the boot off his right foot and stuck his foot through the small partition window. Smith IV used his foot to pull my camera display and transmitter down with his foot to cause damage to the recording system. As I walked back to my patrol car, Smith IV pulled his foot back and sat normal. At this point, I was unaware how the damage occurred. This was found out later by watching the rear camera within my patrol car. Smith IV caused damage to the front display mounts, wiring on the rear camera, and the headliner in the backseat. While speaking with Smith IV he stated that when he saw me he got scared and did not know what to do, so he began fleeing. Smith IV was asked what route he drove after I lost sight of him. He responded by saying he went back out to Rodney Parham from the Serenity Drive and continued back to Markham traveling eastbound. Once Smith IV reached Markham he began driving normal until Cpl. Ibarra got behind him and he decided to flee again. After I received this confession, Smith IV was transported to Baptist Health Little Rock where he was cleared medically then transported to the Pulaski County Jail for processing. Smith IV was charged with the following: 5-38-204(b)(3) (2011): CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - 2ND DEGREE (DAMAGE $1,000) 5-54-103(a): RESISTING ARREST 5-54-125(d)(2) 2023: FLEEING - VEHICLE OR CONVEYANCE - EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT 27-50-302(7): SPEEDING - MORE THAN 15 MPH OVER LIMIT 27-50-308(b)(1)(B) 1ST: RECKLESS DRIVING - 1ST 27-51-304: DRIVING WRONG WAY ON ONE-WAY ROADWAY 27-51-307: IMPROPER PASSING ON LEFT 27-52-107: FAIL TO STOP AT RED LIGHT