Wild video shows the moment an Arkansas state trooper took drastic measures to end a nearly 60-mile police pursuit of a U-Haul van that reached speeds “in excess” of 120 miles per hour. It’s reflected.
Dashcam footage of the dangerous Feb. 7 chase shows the left nose of a Tontitown police car hitting the right rear bumper of a van on Interstate 49, spinning out of control and sending the police car off the road. The footage shows him swerving and falling. before coming to a stop in a sunken median.
Other marked police cars surrounded the van to try to stop it from driving away again, and a group of officers approached the vehicle with guns drawn.
One of the officers was also seen breaking down the passenger window, dragging the suspect onto the highway, and handcuffing him.
Tonti Town authorities press release On February 8, the pursuit ended with “tactical vehicle intervention” by officers, who said a “maneuver” caused the squad car to roll over “multiple times.”
The chase began 56 miles west of Tontitown when Locust Grove, Ark., police began pursuing an allegedly stolen U-Haul, according to the release.
Two Michigan men, Robert Mercier, 21, and Trenton Johnson, 21, were ultimately arrested and were found to be in possession of firearms and Molotov cocktails.
They were charged with a series of crimes, including aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, possession of a destructive device and felony fleeing, according to the release.
Officials said the suspects damaged four Tontitown police cars as they tried to flee, as well as multiple vehicles belonging to other agencies during a reckless 56-mile pursuit.
The two were also wanted in Westland, Michigan, for allegedly trying to run over and kill multiple police officers, authorities said.
The officer in the overturned vehicle was treated for minor injuries, the release said.
