A St. Joe man is in custody following a high-speed pursuit Saturday that continued despite a spike strip disabling three tires on the suspect’s vehicle.
Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell says he attempted a traffic stop of 24-year-old Austin Sharp’s vehicle after noticing its license plate was missing.
Sharp fled south on Arkansas Highway 374, with Cassell noticing a passenger and a dog in the suspect’s vehicle.
Cassell contacted Arkansas State Police (ASP) and the National Park Service for assistance.
When Sharp’s vehicle reached U.S. Highway 65, Cassell says it had exceeded a speed of 90 miles per hour.
After it was determined the direction Sharp would be traveling, ASP deployed spike strips at the Tomahawk bridge.
Even though the strips disabled three tires on Sharp’s vehicle, he continued to flee until he lost control of it, and it left the roadway striking a tree.
Sharp and his passenger were taken into custody without incident. Law enforcement determined the passenger was not involved in the pursuit and had attempted to get Sharp to stop. The unharmed dog was released to Sharp’s friends.
The St. Joe man was transported to the Searcy County Detention Center where he allegedly admitted fleeing from law enforcement due to warrants for his arrest in other counties.
Sharp has been charged with a felony count of fleeing, as well as misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and not having a driver’s license.
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