Dashcam Arkansas State Police PIT Maneuver On 8 Month Old Child - Stolen Car
N A R R A T I V E from Trooper
On September 9, 2022, at approximately 12:00pm, I was working speed overtime around Scott, Arkansas when I observed a red Dodge SUV traveling towards me on Bayou Drive. At that time, I observed the SUV quickly turn around and travel north on Bayou Drive. I began to follow the red SUV, checking the vehicle license plate with my in-car ACIC terminal, which returned stolen out of Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office. Troop A dispatch confirmed that the vehicle was stolen on August 22, 2022.
The SUV was approaching Upper Steele Bend Road and made a left turn, traveling toward Colonel Maynard Road. Once the SUV made a left turn onto Colonel Maynard Road, I activated my emergency blue lights and siren. The SUV failed to yield to my emergency equipment and continued to drive. I pursued the stolen vehicle traveling towards Craig Road with my blue lights and siren still activated. The SUV then made a left turn onto Craig Road. At that time, I observed no other traffic coming from either direction and initiated a P.I.T maneuver on the red SUV. After the P.I.T was performed, I traveled off the westside of Craig Road into a shallow grassy ditch. When I began to steer back onto Crag Road, the suspect vehicle spun 180 degrees counterclockwise and began to travel down the middle of the road backwards. The left rear of the suspect vehicle struck the left front of my patrol unit. After secondary contact with the suspect’s vehicle, I drove forward and turned my patrol unit around, while the SUV began to travel slowly toward the eastside of Crag Road, coming to rest in the grass.
A-09/22-1455
Page 2 of 7
I observed a white male with short hair and balding get out of the driver side of the SUV and run into the woods on the eastside of Craig Road. At that time, I observed a female in the SUV and gave her commands to get on the ground. I advised Troop A dispatch that the male had fled into the woods on foot, and I had one female at gunpoint. The female, later identified as Veronica Jones, began to cry about her baby inside the car. I asked Ms. Jones if the baby was in the back seat buckled up and Ms. Jones stated, “yes”. I then gave Ms. Jones commands to stand up, face away from me, and walk backwards to me. Ms. Jones was then placed into custody. I walked Ms. Jones back up to the SUV to check on her son, which was buckled in a rear- facing car seat. Neither Ms. Jones nor the child had injuries.
Several minutes later, other Troopers, K-9 team, and the State Police helicopter arrived on scene. After approximately one hour of tracking with the K-9, the search was called off due to the driver being identified as Harold Munnerlyn. Trp. Escamilla transported Ms. Jones and her son to the Willow Beach Baptist Church.
CASE ABOUT POLICE ROAD BLOCKS: Brower v. County of Inyo, 489 U.S. 593 (1989)
