Arkansas State Police (ASP) Director Colonel Mike Hagar and 25 of Arkansas’ 28 elected prosecutors have united to deliver a strong message against fleeing from law enforcement. “We will pursue you. We will stop you. And the men and women standing behind me will prosecute you,” said Col. Hagar, addressing the media alongside state prosecutors at the ASP Precision Driving Training Facility at Camp Robinson.
This announcement comes in response to an alarming increase in vehicle pursuits. Last year alone, ASP was involved in 553 pursuits statewide compared to 291 pursuits in 2016.The reckless actions of criminals who flee from law enforcement put the lives of innocent civilians and Troopers at risk. ASP is committed to holding accountable those who attempt to evade law enforcement by fleeing.”We need to focus on the untold number of civilian vehicles caught up in the middle of these pursuits. Each contains our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers,” said Col. Hagar. “Innocent people just trying to go about their daily lives. Fleeing suspects are terrorizing and traumatizing our communities. Our Troopers will not look the other way.”Today, ASP released a new Public Service Announcement highlighting the consequences for individuals who attempt to evade law enforcement.
State prosecutors have committed to prosecuting all felony fleeing cases to the maximum extent of the law.”When someone makes a conscious decision to flee from law enforcement, they endanger every man, woman, and child in those vehicles on the roadway,” Will Jones, Prosecutor for the 6th Judicial District, said. “We will not tolerate those actions, and I’m certainly proud to stand with these men and women today to show support for those who travel the roadways. We will do everything we can to keep families safe and assure those who put their own interest above the lives of others will be prosecuted.” “My own county has a homicide that occurred from a fleeing incident; it is horrific, and it does need to stop,” said Daniel Shue, Prosecuting Attorney for the 12th Judicial District and President of the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorney’s Association. “If you do flee, you will be prosecuted.””We will do what is safest for the public,” Col. Hagar said. “That’s why we have instructed ASP Troopers as soon as they have articulated the suspects are fleeing, to put them in the ditch.”
