Suspect in custody after I-30 chase
Sunday, January 16, 2005 1:08 PM CST
Texarkana, Tex. Policeman Jeremy Sutton and a wrecker service operator secures the door on a Z4 BMW convertible Saturday near Leary, Tex. at the intersection of Earnest Road and Jason Lane. The back window had been shot during a high-speed chase and the car ran over stop sticks before the chase ended. Staff photo by Jim Williamson
By DIONNE VICTOR
Texarkana Gazette
LEARY, Texas-Suspicious activity in Arkadelphia, Ark., resulted in a high speed pursuit on westbound Interstate 30 that ended here Saturday afternoon with a couple being taken into custody, Bowie County Sheriff's Office deputies said.
The male driver of a black BMW Z4 with Arizona license plates was traveling at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, said Bowie County authorities.
The male suspect and his female passenger were not immediately identified Saturday.
Cpl. Brian Daniel, a spokesman with the Arkadelphia Police Department, said at 1:30 p.m. they received a suspicious activity complaint on a person driving a black BMW.
"Officer Coy Hasley goes out to make contact with the complainant, and the complainant points out the same car," said Daniel.
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He said the complaint was made at a car detail shop located at the intersection of Pine Street and West 16th Street in Arkadelphia.
"He (Hasley) pulled to the street to get the license plate number, and as soon as he turned his blue lights on, the person fled," Daniel said.
Hasley ended his chase in Hope, where the Arkansas State Police took over and he was assisted by Deputy Sheriff Travis Vance of the Clark County Sheriff's Office, Daniel said.
When the driver reached Texarkana, Ark., Miller County Sheriff's Office deputies were posted at the 13 mile marker, but were unable to stop the car.
"He was going over 125 miles per hour," said Lt. Willie Green with the Sheriff's Office.
Sgt. Homer McComb with the Bowie County Sheriff's Office said deputies were posted at Farm to Market Road 2148.
"He was on Interstate 30 when we first heard about it," said McComb.
"He came from Arkansas on I-30 and we were advised that he was driving in excess of 100 miles per hour. Miller County (deputies) were in pursuit on I-30 and the cities of Texarkana and DPS were advised."
Once the driver reached the Texas side, he stopped at Redwood Apartments on West Seventh Street, and an officer tried to make contact with him, said Sgt. Johnny Weaver with the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department.
The driver attempted to run over a DPS officer and "the officer fired a couple of rounds, then the pursuit started again," Weaver said.
Weaver said DPS troopers spiked the man's left rear tire after the BMW entered U.S. Highway 59 and merged to I-30 westbound.
The driver then took the Leary exit off I-30 and turned on Earnest Road, where he finally stopped and was taken into custody, said McComb.
He said no one was injured throughout the duration of the chase, and that the situation was not worth endangering the lives of others.
"No one was injured and no accidents were reported," said McComb. "When it gets heavy, we back away."
