A Hot Springs man was arrested Friday morning after a vehicle chase left an allegedly stolen vehicle totaled. Zachary Caleb Crabtree, 37, was taken into custody shortly before noon Friday and is charged with felony counts of theft by receiving, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, fleeing in a vehicle and second-degree criminal mischief, each punishable by up to six years in prison. He was being held on an $8,500 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court. ccording to court records, Crabtree pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court on Thursday, June 18, the day before this crime was allegedly committed, to theft by receiving over $5,000. This conviction also involved a stolen vehicle, stemming from his arrest on Jan. 15 of this year. Crabtree was sentenced to five years' probation and fined $1,500. At 11:42 a.m. Friday, Hot Springs police Officer Cristian Rios responded in reference to a vehicle theft at Central Auto Sales, 3925 Central Ave. The witnesses, employees with Central Auto Sales, gave their statements to Rios. According to the probable cause affidavit, when the witnesses arrived at work, Central Auto Sales had multiple vehicles idling on the lot, so that the batteries in the vehicles did not die. At around 11:30 a.m., the witnesses realized that a red 2012 Chevrolet Colorado was missing from the lot. One witness was able to track the car with a GPS inside the vehicle. According to the affidavit, the witnesses tracked the vehicle to where it was parked at a residence located on 565 Lakeland Drive. They allegedly saw a white male standing near the vehicle packing and loading items into it. One witness identified the male as Crabtree, due to the fact she and Crabtree had gone to the same high school. This witness confronted Crabtree, and Crabtree allegedly cursed her out before fleeing into the cab of the stolen vehicle. The witness followed Crabtree in her own personal vehicle, calling HSPD. The witness told dispatchers Crabtree was heading north on Lakeland Drive toward Central Avenue. Rios was in the area and saw the vehicle turn into Casey's on Central Avenue to cut through the parking lot. Rios reportedly turned on his lights and attempted to make a traffic stop. Once turned around, Rios witnessed the vehicle cut through the parking lot of Whataburger into the parking lot of the Bank OZK next door, then cut through the grass towards Mehta Court, which made it clear he was evading police. Arkansas State Police were in the area and responded to the pursuit. Trooper's Report: On 06/19/2026 at approximately 1148 hours, the Hot Springs Police Department requested assistance with an active vehicle pursuit in the area of Cornerstone Blvd. and Highway 7 South. I, Trp. Wootten #567, observed the suspect vehicle, an unlicensed red Chevy Colorado traveling through the parking lot of Cracker Barrel before turning west onto Pakis St., jumping the curb before passing vehicles as he turned north onto Highway 7 South, at which time I assumed primary unit responsibilities in the pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued northbound through the intersection of Highway 7 South and Television Hill Rd. at speeds in excess of 90 mph in a 35 mph zone while traveling in the inside northbound traffic lane under medium traffic conditions. Due to the suspect's reckless operation of the vehicle and the danger posed to the motoring public, I identified an area of opportunity and positioned my patrol vehicle to perform a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) on the passenger rear quarter panel of the suspect vehicle near the intersection with Franklin St. The TVI caused the suspect vehicle to rotate into the parking lot of Chambers Bank, where it struck a business sign, causing approximately $3,500 in damage. The suspect vehicle continued north through the parking lot in an attempt to evade law enforcement. At that time, Trp. Rideout #359 executed a second Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), causing the suspect vehicle to rotate approximately 180 degrees. After the second TVI, the suspect continued attempting to flee. I, Trp. Wootten #567, positioned the front of my patrol vehicle against the passenger side of the suspect vehicle while Trp. Grubbs #233 positioned the front of his patrol vehicle against the front of the suspect vehicle, effectively preventing any further escape. The driver was identified as Zachary Crabtree and was taken into custody without further incident. Crabtree was transferred to a Hot Springs Police Department patrol unit and transported to the Garland County Detention Center. He was charged with Theft by Receiving (Class C Felony), Criminal Mischief (Class C Felony), and Felony Fleeing (Class C Felony).

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