Photo: Michael Kelly
A high-speed pursuit in Fulton County ended when a suspect’s vehicle rolled over leaving the roadway and came to rest in a pond near Glencoe.
The driver of the fleeing vehicle, 32-year-old Michael Kelly, has been charged with a felony count of fleeing and misdemeanors of driving while intoxicated – third drugs, refusal to submit to a chemical test, no liability insurance, driving DWI suspended license and reckless driving. His address in previous online court documents was listed as Franklin.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the pursuit began after a pickup was observed sitting on Wood Hollow Road with its turn signal and bright lights activated on the evening of March 6.
As the Arkansas State Police trooper’s patrol unit approached the pickup, it turned onto Arkansas Highway 289 and then U.S. Highway 62. During the trooper’s pursuit of Kelly’s vehicle, radar tracked its speed reaching 128 miles per hour while traveling westbound for approximately 6 miles.
Kelly’s vehicle was observed traveling into the eastbound lane and the shoulder of the highway multiple times. When it approached the Glencoe area, the pursued pickup was being driven in the center of the roadway and came “very close to striking another vehicle head on.”
With the vehicle fast approaching the city limits of Glencoe, the trooper noted in his report he knew traffic would be busy due to the regional basketball tournament taking place.
The trooper initiated a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver to stop the fleeing vehicle. His actions led to the truck crossing both eastbound lanes of traffic and exiting the roadway before landing in a pond.
The trooper noted as he exited his patrol unit, he could hear the suspect yelling for help. As he approached the suspect with his duty weapon drawn, Kelly had exited his truck and was attempting to get out of the water.
After learning there was no one else in the truck, the trooper proceeded to the shallow area of the pond and took Kelly to the bank.
Fulton County Ambulance Service treated Kelly before transporting him to White River Medical Center in Batesville.
Kelly’s bond was set at $20,000.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI