On May 24th, Arkansas State Police (ASP) managed to rescue four children from a perilous situation, and thankfully, all of them survived.
The incident began when an officer tried to pull over an SUV for a traffic violation in Camden. The driver, however, sped off, leading to a high-speed pursuit. THV 11 reported that the officer was unaware there were children in the vehicle, which was zooming past 100 mph.
Attempts by the police to execute a PIT maneuver were unsuccessful. Dashcam footage revealed the SUV careening along the road, overtaking other cars and veering into oncoming traffic at times.
Eventually, the driver lost control, resulting in the SUV crashing into a ditch, striking a utility pole, flipping multiple times, and coming to a halt on its side.
“He crashed,” one officer was heard saying on camera. With power lines hanging precariously near the vehicle, one officer cautioned another to avoid touching the wires or the car. Nevertheless, the officer closest to the wreck bent down, retrieved a 4-month-old infant who had been ejected, and carried him to safety across the road.
The other three children were heard crying from inside the SUV, and the officer reassured them that he was there to help. Notably, one child had a cast on his arm, prompting officers to carry him to their vehicle, where they checked him over.
“Does it hurt? How old are you?” an officer inquired, before cradling the boy gently, saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” Another officer was seen conforting a baby who was peacefully asleep against his chest.
All the children, under 6 years old, suffered only minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for assessment. Authorities subsequently reached out to their mother.
The driver was identified as Tyrice Fletcher, 28, who has a prior felony record.
According to THV 11, he faces multiple charges, such as fleeing from law enforcement, possessing a defaced firearm, and four counts of endangering minors, among others, with police discovery of marijuana inside the SUV.
ASP has defended their pursuit policies, noting the driver’s decision to evade law enforcement posed a significant risk to the children. KATV quoted an official saying, “As a father, I can’t comprehend how a parent could drive so recklessly, especially while fleeing with children in the vehicle. Thankfully, no children were harmed. We must act to prevent suspects from jeopardizing innocent lives by fleeing.”
ASP shared a message on social media on Friday, encouraging parents and guardians to prioritize their children’s safety when stopped by police.
Hagar, another official, remarked, “It’s a dreadful situation to put your children in.” He emphasized that discussions around this behavior should take place in homes, places of worship, and communities to ensure it is widely condemned.
