Police cruiser goes airborne during a high-speed pursuit
State police vehicle is disabled after wild chase across the bridge
By DON WILBURN
donaldfwilburn@gmail.com
They say that art imitates life and it would certainly appear that local law enforce is imitating the Dukes of Hazzard after yet another high-speed pursuit to escape across the bridge ends with the officer’s patrol vehicle going airborne not once, but twice.
On Feb 1, at approximately 4:00 p.m., ASP Trooper Dairren Evans was stationed locally when dispatch alerted him to a shooting at the Baptist Memorial Hospital. The suspect, identified as Antonio Adrion Grays was seen fleeing the scene in a blue 2018 Dodge pickup truck with Arkansas license plate “1DUGP.” He was reportedly still armed with the handgun used in the incident.
Evans immediately began patrolling the area in search of the suspect. After an extensive search, the suspect’s mother informed authorities that he had arrived at his residence in Gilmore, Arkansas. However, a short time later, officers with the West Memphis Police Department spotted Grays’ vehicle attempting to return to the scene near the hospital. When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the suspect fled south on 7th Street.
Evans quickly caught up to the chase and took lead as the pursuiit entered interstate 55 south near the one-mile marker. The suspect was traveling at a high speed, prompting Evans to attempt a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI). His patrol vehicle made contact with the passenger-side rear quarter panel of the suspect’s truck, causing it to veer off course. However, as the tires of both vehicles made contact, Evans’ patrol car briefly went airborne. After regaining control, he saw the suspect vehicle approaching from behind. Evans attempted to block its path, but Grays manged to evade him by driving into the grass.
The pursuit continued south on Interstate 55 on the bridge. Just before the state line the suspect’s vehicle became stuck behind a semi-truck, providing Evans an opportunity for a second TVI. This time, he struck the driver-side rear quarter panel, causing both vehicles this time to momentarily go airborne, disabling Evans’ patrol car, but severly damaging the suspect vehicle Grays continued fleeing south on Interstate 55, with West Memphis officers in pursuit.
The chase extended into Memphis where Grays ultimately crashed on South Parkway due to the damage sustained in the TVI attempts. He was taken into custody without further incident. Officers recovered the firearm used in the shooting just outside the suspect’s vehicle, which Grays had attempted to discard before his arrest. The West Memphis Police Department is handling all charges related to the shooting, while Evans will file additional charges through the Crittenden County Prosecuting Attorney, including felony fleeing, excessive speeding, and first-degree criminal mischief.
In the popular 1980s show the Duke boys nearly always escaped the clutches of Rosco P. Coltrain, but that may just be because they never ran from the Arkansas State Police.
