NO SEATBELT & MARIJUANA leads to dangerous pursuit - Arkansas State Police attempt multiple PIT's

Report: On 10/01/26 at approximately 10:32 A.M., I was stationary at Calvary Temple Church on State Highway 124, looking for violations. I observed a blue Chevrolet Tahoe westbound, and the driver, who was wearing a white T-shirt, was not wearing a seat belt. I pulled out and caught up to the vehicle. At 10:32 P.M., I initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle by activating my blue lights. The vehicle continued traveling west on State Highway 124 at around 30 MPH, and I thought he was looking for a place to pull over. I started hitting my siren as we came over the Interstate 40 overpass, but the vehicle continued westbound slowly. As we approached East Parkway Ave, the vehicle accelerated, going through the red light at State Highway 124 and East Parkway at 75 MPH, going into the eastbound lanes of traffic in front of Walmart, going head-on with approaching vehicles. As we approached the red light at State Highway 124 and U.S. Highway 64, the suspect went through the red light and crossed all the lanes of traffic to go westbound in the eastbound lanes, again going head-on with approaching vehicles. The suspect then took the turn lane, reaching speeds of 95 MPH. As we went through the intersection of North Knoxville Ave. and U.S. Highway 64, I attempted a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), but the suspect vehicle braked, causing me to hit the rear bumper area of the Tahoe. The suspect vehicle continued westbound on U.S. Highway 64 going 83 MPH, and as we were going over the overpass, the suspect again went into the eastbound lanes of traffic. The suspect then turned south onto State Highway 7, running the red light at its intersection with U.S. Highway 64. The suspect continued south on State Highway 7, reaching speeds of 80 MPH. The suspect ran a red light by cutting through a parking lot at State Highway 7 and East 16th Street and going eastbound on East 16th Street. The suspect then ran the stop sign at East 16th St. and South Detroit Ave., and he turned northbound on South Detroit Ave. The suspect ran the stop sign at South Detroit Ave. and East 8th Street at 57 MPH, still going northbound on South Detroit Ave. The suspect then ran the stop sign at South Detroit and East 4th Street at approximately 45 MPH. Just north of the 4th Street intersection, a Russellville P.D. unit was in the southbound lanes with its lights on, so the suspect drove onto the walkway going northbound. As the vehicle was reentering the roadway, I attempted a second TVI, but the suspect was able to come out of it and continue northbound on S. Detroit Ave. As the vehicle was going northbound on now North Detroit Ave., he got up to speeds of 65 MPH, and as he came to the intersection of East Parkway Drive, the suspect lost control, spinning the vehicle around facing back southbound. I went head-on to the vehicle and attempted to stop the pursuit by blocking it in. The suspect kept backing up, but I kept reconnecting with the front bumper. As the vehicle was attempting to turn around to go back northbound, I again attempted a TVI, but the vehicle once again came out of it going back northbound. As the vehicle approached the intersection of East H Street and N. Detroit Ave. at the roundabout, the suspect went the wrong way, going west on East H Street. The suspect accelerated to 65 MPH as it approached the intersection of State Highway 7 (North Arkansas Avenue) and ran the stop sign, crossing over all lanes of traffic onto West H Street. The vehicle kept going westbound on West H Street and ran the stop sign at West H Street and North El Paso Ave., almost striking a red Ford Ranger pickup. I then attempted another TVI, which was successful, and with the help of Russellville P.D. units, the suspect and passenger were both taken into custody without further incident. The passenger was later released with no charges. The suspect was identified as Drake Rickerson and the passenger as Alyssia Taylor. In the carry bag that Rickerson had strapped around him was a small amount of a green leafy substance that I recognized to be marijuana. I advised Rickerson of his 5th Amendment rights, and he had no statements to make. I completed an inventory of the vehicle, and it was towed by Arndt's Wrecker Service. Drake Rickerson was transported to the Pope County Detention Center and charged with the following: 5-54-125(d)(3) - FLEEING - FELONY - VEHICLE OR CONVEYANCE - SUBSTANTIAL DANGER OF DEATH 5-38-203 – FELONY – CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 27-50-308 – RECKLESS DRIVING 5-64-419 – POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 5-54-103 – REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO ARREST 27-52-107 (X3) – FAILURE TO OBEY RED LIGHT 27-16-303 – DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE 27-37-702 – NO SEAT BELT 27-51-601 (X3) – FAILURE TO OBEY STOP SIGNS