On January 10th, 2019, Arkansas State Police trooper, Firstclass Joshua Porter, initiated what began as a routine traffic stop on Old Highway 271. The vehicle, a silver Nissan Ultima display license plate, registered to a completely different vehicle, a Chevrolet Impala. What followed was a 13-mile pursuit, reaching speeds of [music] 131 mph crossing state lines, and ultimately revealing the driver's connection to an international drug trafficking organization with ties to [music] Jaliscoco New Generation Cardell. This analysis examines the legal authority for the pursuit of the tactical decisions made and the constitutional implications of the multi-jurisdictional arrest that follow >> [clears throat] >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Trooper Porter approaches the vehicle with textbook positioning, maintaining what officers call the bladed stance, NAS. His body angled away from potential threats while keeping his duty weapon on the opposite side from the vehicle's occupants. The initial reasonable suspicion for this stop is clearly established under Terry versus Ohio. The fictitious license plates provide not just reasonable suspicion, but probable cause for multiple violations, including Arkansas Code section 2714705, registration fraud. Notice the trooper's hand positioning near his duty belt. This is a trained response indicating heightened awareness. The illegally dark window tint violating Arkansas Code section 2737101 prevents the trooper from visually clearing the vehicle's interior, elevating the risk factor of the stop. The driver, later identified as Israel Miranda Zapata, provides the false name Israel del Rio with a fabricated date of birth. This constitutes obstruction of justice under Arkansas Code section 554102. The passenger Randy Turpin remains notably silent during this exchange. Troop reporter's request for the V number is significant. This 17digit identifier cannot be falsified and would reveal if the vehicle is stolen. Under the Supreme Court's ruling in Arizona versus SC officers may search a vehicle incident to arrest when they have reasonable belief that evidence of the crime of arrest might be found within the fictitious place alone provide this authority. >> On if it has insurance, we'll go from there. >> [music] >> 10 for 1037 southbound 540 Oklahoma 515 plastic fountain carry 6 years off SPS exceeding per already has created light traffic. We just passed a couple on the shoulder. We're back in the left lane. I'm staying in the left lane. Are you still headed southbound? >> Yeah. One Hispanic male, one white male. Unsure if they gave me the right information or not. Have them write it down. Pursuit reaches a speed velocity of 131 mph as the vehicle undo established United States retains fully legal authority to continue the pursuit across state. The interstate combat agreement between Arkansas and Oklahoma specifically authorizes crossber pursues for felony offenses. Oklahoma highway patrol units are already mobilizing. This level of inter coordination is crucial for officer safety and successful traffic shoulder pass. Each of these maneuvers cost additional charges driving. Don't have them on just yet. We're turning on 9 east Open start. There's no traffic on West. 134 Smith. I'm crossing in Oklahoma. Try to keep up with me. >> 10. Oklahoma controller authorizes the use of a precision of this force must be evaluated. Yeah, be careful. >> I guess I'll go down south that way. >> Yeah, looks like the best route to AR. Let me slowly sound like 14 that should come out over there by Davis. >> If you use W Street to go into Aroma, that's the road that they're on. Sounds like they're over in AR right now. Hey, you got no 10. We got no traffic. We're still on 98. We're east on it. There's We're about 100. He knows I'm trying to pit. He keep on swerving over him. Trying to wait till I get on 9 south heading towards our cover. Thank you. cross the photo river. >> Yeah, I know you're trying, but we need to get him before he gets back into Fort Smith. 104. He just took a turn on me some side street. I got to turn back over. Looks like all this comes back out to 112. Wait to see avenue. Avenue go south on Vansel Street. South loop around back to main wheel. on private property right now. Cross still shows me, just stay straight. Get on straight line road. TURN RIGHT. >> HEY, LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS. >> Let me see your hands right now. >> Let me SEE YOUR [ __ ] HANDS. FORT SMITH, HE'S wrecked out on this yolk. >> Let me see your hand. >> He's wrecked out. Not me. >> I've got him at gunpoint, but they have a legal tent. >> I don't know if he or not. Yeah, he's in there. He's honking. >> Let me see YOUR [ __ ] ASS. YOU MOVE ON. YOU MOVE ON. Get on the ground. Get on the ground. Get on the ground now. [screaming] Oh god. On the right. Put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back. 47. [panting] Get on the drive. Get up. >> Get the [ __ ] up. >> Get on the ground. Left again. What? >> I'm nervous. Well, that's stupid. Now you just got felony charges in two states. >> Yes. Do not move. Keep your hands out. Tas are deployed. I got one 15 once on the ground. Actually, you [snorts] get on the ground, too. Just face down. Put face down. Put your face down. Hands behind your back. >> 14. I just turn left on good. >> 15 times two. [snorts] >> What are you running for? No. Nervous. Is it stolen? Uh, >> no nothing. Are you hurt? You want to EMS? >> Turn left there on main and then you'll come down. Good line on the right. >> You said he was hurting. >> My legs a little [ __ ] up. Oh yeah. Felony charges two states. Got to love it. Whoever's coming down this road is a curves. Don't come hot. I haven't patted him down or search driver. This is my driver. That's your driver. Not very smart, is it? [ __ ] stand up. I'm going to help you hear my turn. Any problems I do? Can't hear you. Let me put him in the Just put him in the back. >> Yeah. All right. Hold on. Can we stop running for a second? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Why y'all running? I wasn't running 27. 97 northwest. I was trying to get man. He was driving stupid. I just had to stay in the left lane. Stay behind him. He did this on his own. I wouldn't even came around the corner and following on. Huh? Oh, I wouldn't even worry about it. I shot He ran. Yeah. Oh [ __ ] Yep. Yeah, I shot him way down here. There's one of my mags. That's his phone down here. Guess not. Yeah, he took a somewhere around here and take it in. That's it. I don't think [snorts] we're going to be able to find it though. He feel flat in the bars. Yeah, I'm not too worried about confetti that don't worry about that. >> Appreciate [snorts] it. I'm going to have to get a warrant for him. >> Yeah. See if I think that isn't coming. No, that's Paka, I believe. I just need somebody [snorts] just left the casino. >> Huh? >> Said they just left the casino. Guy just picked him up. I don't know who he is >> really. He was nervous, too, though. He didn't want to give me his name. 28. >> Go ahead. >> 512 Victor Union King. 512 Victor Union King. Victor Union Henry >> King, can you reset your emergency? Let me know if that reset for 5121 Johnson out of >> I got the van in here. Let me run it real quick. It's stolen. >> A >> 10 for Smith. It is going to be a 53 vehicle. Got a let's give you a 28 when you're ready. >> Go ahead. >> 850 young Henry Frank. 850 young Henry Frank >> [snorts] >> Are you >> clear? >> A new car. >> Yeah, I think they see this thing. >> I know. Show me at 602 Village Drive. Reference. We have a message from >> 602 Village. Where you at? Where'd you get him at? >> He stopped first. 253 and 540. Got all their information. Got the 28 or the VIN. Came back to my car and took south on 540 and went all the way down to 9A east. >> Yeah. >> Uh, I might have to call dispatch. I don't know which one. I have to have them freaking send a Oklahoma unit over here to transport. Have to go get one. car. Hey man. Looks like stolen vehicle. He's suspended. I hadn't run him for warrants yet. We're searching the car now. It's kind of hard to only get on one side cuz it's in the ditch. >> Yeah. So, >> he just wrecked. Yeah. But I have use force from my t. >> Yeah. The driver or one Hispanic male, one white male. So, that's about all I got right now. Uh, like I said, we can only get like on half the car. Um, do we know this is going to be I don't even know where I'm at. Got to figure out what local agency. Yeah, what see if they'll transport them to there and I have to go get a warrant for their arrest, I guess. So, yep. Uh, both suspended. I hadn't ran them yet. That doesn't show any 53s on them. 253 and 540. And I got their information, ran the van down cuz it was fictitious. Walked back to my car and they sped off. They hit 540 south on into Oklahoma. Those doors won't open there at all. I guess we just figure see what now casino sitting on old highway 271. song go by. Ran the tank was fictitious. Got behind it, pulled it over, they stopped. I guess we can sit and find out. I guess I'll go back and look in my car. You took off running. Yeah. >> Yep. It's stolen out of Fateville December 8th. So, >> what? >> It's a 2017 Nissan Ultima. >> Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> Yeah, just once. He filling. No. Uh, he filling the briers. I put him in cups. I'll ask if anybody want to be. Yeah, I hope so. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. See if our como 219. All right. Think is here now. So, all right. Thanks. Do you need medical for any reason? I'm asking you, do you want do you need medical? Yes or no? I'm not I mean I understand you know I've got back pain right now but do you need medical? Yes or no? >> A little bit somebody come pick you up Highway 9A. >> That's where we first. >> Oh, did you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I guess >> they said you wiped out on 9. That's my car. >> I didn't know it was a trooper or we didn't got the guy out. Y'all got him. >> Yeah, I got there's one in each car. This is my driver here. I've got a passenger back here about to run both of them, but uh he's one to come check him out. He said he's got a little bit of leg pain. >> It is confirmed stolen. Got to pay a bill. So, What's that? >> Oh yeah. >> So you probably call that Marshall enforcement and that stuff in there was stolen stolen from somewhere. >> Stolen over here. Do y'all know y'all have a preference on the record y'all call over here since it is >> that's fine. Uh, y'all want us to call them for you or call? >> It's up to you. >> Yeah, since we're over here, it's kind of we're in y'all's ballpark right now. Um, I know I need to at least if you'll see if you can get EMS just come out and check that one guy out for sure. I tell you my driver, >> if you would go ahead and dispatch EMS and uh get record one on the way. >> He just complained a little bit of leg pain. He was a passenger. He landed over there. Imagine he did pretty pretty good. But >> who are they? >> Do you need medical attention? Okay. Tim for Smith, I'll give you a DL number. See if you can run him. Just run away. See if he has any possib Paul Edward Nora First name Randy 73 0 1 02 73 0 1 02 now we got the driver is a Israel Miranda Zapata out of FortSmith and the passengers are Ry's Turpin out they're both out of Arkansas I was telling them I said one I thought it might be one of my guys but it ain't nothing mine when they turn down this road dead end road runner >> oh I said saw the private deal. I was like, "Thank goodness. This dude's screwed now." >> Well, uh, not too worried about that. >> We're going to have to figure out. They're probably going to transport somewhere. >> He doesn't want Well, let me get him out. I'll do that. >> This guy doesn't want medical. He's fine. He said he doesn't want to. >> Hey, Chris, come put this guy in the back of your car. Not that I want to leave. No, you're good, man. I understand. Hey, go and help out for us real quick. >> I was going to make sure you're okay. No, I appreciate you coming over here, man. I heard you coming. I was like, let's go over here for a second. We got EMS coming to check you out. Figure all this out. Do what? You don't know who that is, huh? Okay. Yeah. Just for a second. Just sit back there till we get Yeah, he's not even really on over time. So, he's just head up sitting on the back of work. Yeah, if you don't mind if you if you don't mind. >> You want pull to the side right here. Thanks, man. short. Is this your hat? >> 14. >> Short. Is this yours? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Is there move over to the side a little bit more? >> Do what now? My my hands are trying to fall asleep and you >> Yeah, I'll help you out, man. I'm coming. Stand out here for a second. Come out here. Do what? Yep. Help. There you go. Turn around. Go ahead. Step out for a second. Just lean up against the car. Make sure they're not too tight. Set his hands before sleep. Don't want to do that. Y'all transport us transport them to >> We'll have to take a photo. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I'll have to go back. I'll get a warrant for them over at our county or prosecutor's office. Uh >> do you want to go ahead and swap now then? Do that. >> All right. You hear all that? >> All right, we're going to swap cuffs cuz you're going to be going to Oklahoma first county jail. Then you'll be extradited back over here to Arkansas. If I can figure Hello. Smith H10. She can let her do I have worse signal better than I do my old one. >> Both subjects are 1052 terminal. I'm stand by for your area wide. Your zapata subject is suspended and does show to have numbers. Your turban subject is suspended. He also shows to have numbers. They're negative for Smith and Crawford so far. Whatever. The driver, that one that we just hooked up, he ran probably up 30 yards or so and I tased him. He fell in the briars. No kidding. Oh, >> hey. >> Yeah. Hey, man. Um, coming in right on limits. I guess he ran that lady off the road. We got that accident. Uh, yeah, we can put that in our port for sure. Okay. the accident over here. I mean, I can give you all the information of him and stuff like that, but I mean, if he ran off the road and stuff like that, I can definitely open up, but I can't do an accident here. I can have a report and I'll get all her information. That'll be good, too. >> Sure. >> Okay. Yeah. Let me gather that up for you. >> All right, man. with that ammo. >> You had to have a gun. >> You have to have a gun. >> I think it is. I don't know. >> This is probably stolen. >> There's jacks in there. They'll be stolen. >> This is all brand new stuff right here. They'll be stolen. And you're supposed to be negative. I mean, how do you guess? Marshalls. What's Marshall? There Marshalls everywhere. I can put it in the I put a toe slip or something in there. I don't know. I don't know. ain't no freaking >> Yeah. I mean, cuz we ain't going to I don't know what Marshall There's a ton of marshals around the state. >> Yeah. >> I don't know if I'd worry about it, man. >> Oh, really? 97 >> probably see Wilson pull it out so we can search that right side. >> How's it going, man? >> Hey, buddy. >> Doing all right. >> How you doing? >> Doing well. You doing good? >> Good to see you. >> Good. Good. Good. Would you mind pulling out so we can see that right side? Get in on that. Would you mind pulling it out so we can get on that right side? Okay. To hook on to Yes, sir. out on the ground for a minute first. Uh, >> yeah, that' be good. We can look on that right side. We can't get on that passenger side yet. >> Are you charging the passenger with anything? >> No, I just ran him everybody. He doesn't have anything. I'm going to release him. But >> get road walking here at you. >> Well, get him right back. Don't steal no car from our home. >> I think I think you I guarantee you probably just met the guy at the casino. That's where I tried to stop him at. So yeah, >> he stopped originally. >> Then he uh after I got all their information, he took off. >> Are you serious? He stopped. >> He did stop. I I wrote down the VIN and I got their names on my notepad. >> Tax fictitious. Yeah. I walked back to my car and next thing over on 271 in Oklahoma. >> You went down 9A 271 to 9A over here. >> Got a better road on 9A. >> I know, but he was >> he knew I was coming for that side though. >> Was that him kept going off the road on 9A there? seen that. >> We just got typed that y'all wiped out on 98. I go that's what it took me so long getting here cuz I go all the way down to the very end of 98 looking for you. Didn't see any crossroads. Just said >> well he almost wiped out on one of the curves but I was staying there. I know I've had a pursuit on 98 before. I know how curvy it is. I wasn't on his bumper the whole time. >> That Poto River Bridge where I had a pursuit there one time. dumped a bunch of dope on there. >> That sucker. It'll go though. Jeez. Little ultimate in there. It's pretty fast. There's the >> It goes back to a different alter. >> A different one, huh? >> Yeah. Well, he stole it too from somewhere. >> It's coming back. Not stole any color. >> You doing all right? >> Young boys, he's got good shoes on. Uh yeah, I'll take a picture of it at least. There's not any damage or anything. Okay, I can at least be good. anything else? I think that's good. Uh, where was it that where run off the road? Uh 271 271 and 112 and 271. Okay. And I'll get that out and everything. Appreciate it. Busy as? No. No. So I guess photo come in. I thought well I head up north west and he stopped there at 253 and 540. So as I walked back I was like I was happy he went back on the interstate though and hopped into I was perfectly fine with that. I was like please don't go downtown Ford Smith. Hopped on the interstate. Another ball game. >> Stupid on that road. Hey, I told you stay by me. You go. You go. You go down 71. Check it out. >> He turned down his private drive and made my day though. >> I was like, "Oh, this is good." He wasn't going anywhere. All that stolen probably. There's no way to find out exactly where it's all all that crap, too. I guarant It's all brand new. Chunk it back in there. Pass. I probably let that passenger go. I don't know if he has anything. >> He didn't bleed. He didn't do anything. >> He got out the car and laid right there on the ground. >> Yeah. >> Can't really justify putting anything on here, especially >> I've had to That's what I had to do last time, too. I had that one up there and there about for you. >> Yeah. I'm going to go up to the that one. Yeah. I'm going to passenger loose. He doesn't have anything. Driver go down there and I'll get You want you need any of his information or he's in my car? >> Or actually, no, I take that back. He's in that SUV back there already. This uh black. >> Yeah. >> Is that your old stuff? >> Yeah. >> Y'all cuffs? >> No, it's his cuffs. >> Yeah, I'm watching. Just watch it. Not worth messing with. I'm going to check the passenger side for sure. >> Yeah, I hear you. Another slim jam. Jesus. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Do we? >> Yeah, buddy. >> Hell yeah. >> Take both of them. >> Yep. Both of them going now. Let's see that. Grab it. Now we're talking. Now we're talking. Bingo. Bingo. Hey, are you willing to add charges on him for the cause of the accident up on 271? Uh, you charge him with >> that on 38 Silverado John 776 RPJ 77. >> That'd be good. Hey, Diego. We got some baggies, too. Both occupants immediately flee on foot, adding evading arrest charges under Arkansas Code section 554103. Miranda Zapata attempts to run, but is quickly apprehended by Troop Porter. The passenger turpin walks away more slowly and is detained by Oklahoma officers. The Supreme Court's ruling in Terry versus Ohio authorizes the patent search of both suspects for weapons given the violent nature of the flight and the reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. What officers discovered next transforms this from a traffic violation into a federal drug trafficking case. He had ran off the road doesn't have damage to his vehicle to pull him out. I'll be 98. No need. >> Hello. Here we go. >> Got a little syringe, buddy. Little torch lighter. Hell yeah. Come back. I don't Yeah. Heat. should be might be unlocked that get checked out. >> Wasn't he the driver? >> Yeah, OP's. But this is the pasture. The one that wants to be checked out. He wrecked out. He's running. No, he's the passenger. They were running from me. They ran down into this ditch over here. He's complaining of some leg pain. I'm going to even get short to unlock it. Hey, short. Hey, short, you unlock it. EMS going to check him out. Should be unlocked now. Check. Mag up. I've just emailed that to you. If you have any issues, just uh get a hold of me. >> Is your dispatch doing a locate on the NCIC entry? >> I should be. Yeah. >> Okay. >> It should be since we got that. >> I didn't want to double up, but I want to make sure it's done. >> Yeah, they'll do that. 10 for if you'll email me incident number, property control number. Got felony 590 in the vehicle as well. >> My bad. Oh, I think it's nice to know. This thing's been stripped down. Slow down. >> Do what? >> Slow down. >> Appreciate it. >> Good to see you. >> Both sides of the state, right? >> Yeah. >> I know you do. I'm just set it up here with me. May throw it all in this one bag itself. Should be like way. Hold on. Wait a second. >> [snorts] >> You want to go off? Yeah. That car what he's want to do as well. >> Yeah, >> he's being checked up by EMS right now. I don't know what he's going to do from there. So, both suspects and custom Oh, heat, heat. Did you get your B, bro? >> Yeah, man. I appreciate it. >> Yeah, no problem. >> You You were on my last one out here in Oklahoma. >> Pretty sure you were the one that was out there. That one that when you bust down that cattle gate, went out in the mud in that field that one time a couple years back. >> Early in the morning. >> Yeah. all the way off of uh >> waited out there busting through the cattle gate. >> Yeah, man. >> You have ID on that dude? >> Uh the driver. >> Good luck seeing it. But yeah, I got it. >> That's why I asked for his name. This is the driver's. Yeah, that's I've got his information. >> That's my driver, Israel. Well, negative. That's not him. It's on my phone cuz he lied about his name, date of birth, too. >> Yeah, that's not him. >> I got Israel Miranda. >> Yeah, that's Zapata. It's right here. >> If you can copy, go ahead. >> Maybe I do need to run that name too to the White Caravan. That's what it is. >> [laughter] >> I just realized >> California >> post arrest questioning reveals a depth of deception. Miranda Zapata continues to provide false information even after being read his Miranda writes a decision that will impact his sentencing. Under United States sentencing guidelines, obstruction of justice can add two levels to the base offense, potentially adding years to a sentence. The coordination between Arkansas State Police, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and federal agencies demonstrates the multi-jurisdictional nature of modern drug enforcement. Within hours, this case will be connected to a larger DA investigation into methamphetamine trafficking across the Arkansas Oklahoma border. >> Yeah. >> All right. That's your place. >> Yeah. >> He lied about who he was. That's not him. That's him. >> Warrants. >> No, we don't have any warrants. >> Really? obstruction sucks to do that. >> You need a passenger passenger get it off. Okay. I'm going give that back to him. I got crap go everywhere. Don't let the belongings go IDs of these two guys. >> Uh driver >> and you're probably going to want to write it down cuz you can't read his ID. >> I got this. He's got Okay. This guy. >> This is the driver. >> Yes, sir. >> Arkansas. >> Yes. >> Okay. Arkansas license. I'm going to spell the last name for you. >> The legal consequences for Israel Miranda Sapata were severe and multifaceted. On August 7th, 2019, he was convicted of theft by receiving for the stolen vehicle receiving 40 days in jail. On June 18th, 2020, he pleaded guilty to felony fleeing, driving on a suspended license, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of control substances. But the most significant charges came from federal prosecutors. On August 5th, 2020, Miranda Zapata was arrested as part of Operation Bare Mountain Bingo, a year-long investigation into methamphetamine trafficking linked to the Jelisco New Generation Cartel. On April 1st, 2021, he was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The passenger, Randy Turpin, still faces pending drug charges. I don't know if you want that to go with barely read. I got it on my phone if you need that. >> Yeah, it'll scan on the back if you have scan. Yeah, it will scan. >> There he is. >> There he is. You want to prop 33 anywhere near 22. Okay. Just uh print the VIN number and that return. Heat. Heat. There's one 154 out of California. Last name spelling all Edward Robert Edward Adam. >> Let's evaluate the performance of all parties involved. Trooper Joshua Porter receives an A minus. His initial approach was textbook maintaining officer safety while establishing clear probable cause for the stop. The pursuit was conducted professionally with excellent communication to dispatch. The PIT maneuver execution and foot pursuit showed superior tactical skills. The only minor deduction is for not requesting backup before approaching a vehicle with illegally tinted windows. Israel Miranda Zapata receives an F. He committed multiple felonies, endangered countless innocent motorists, provided false identification, and was connected to international drug trafficking. His decisions transformed a minor traffic infraction into 9 years in federal prison. Randy Turpin receives a D. While he didn't flee as aggressively as the driver, he failed to discourage the flight, didn't immediately comply with officers, and was present during criminal activity. The multi- agency response receives an A for exceptional coordination across state lines, professional execution of high-risisk tactics, and successful apprehension without injury to innocent parties. >> Why? I wasn't running. I'm 97. It's going to be on the ramp from 540 north to 40 west. running. >> Yeah. >> Really? >> Never know what ride you're going for. >> Yeah, they got the contact. >> Yeah. Yeah. A little bit. A little bit. >> Not that I want to leave you. >> I just want to make sure you're okay. I appreciate you coming, man. Your family. I heard you coming. Let's go over here for a second. Can you listen to >> my my hands are trying to fall? Can you listen? >> Yeah, I'll help you out, man. I'm coming. Stand out here for a second. Come out here. What? There you go. Turn around. Go ahead. Step out for a second. Just lean up against the car. All right. Just going to loosen them. Make sure they're not too tight. Set his hand fall asleep. Won't do that. >> Y'all transport us. Transport them to >> We have to take a photo. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> I'll have to go back. I'll get a warrant for him over at our county or prosecutor's office. >> Uh, you want to go ahead and swap stuff now, then do that? >> This case demonstrates how a routine traffic stop can reveal connections to international criminal organizations. The legal doctrines of hot pursue, reasonable suspicion, and the automobile exception all played crucial roles in bringing a dangerous criminal to justice. The multi-jurisdictional cooperation between Arkansas and Oklahoma law enforcement proved essential in preventing the suspect from escaping accountability. Let us know if there's an interaction or legal topic you would like us to discuss in the comments below.