Seth Shealey (Photo courtesy of Marion County Sheriff’s Office)
A Marion County man was arrested recently for driving erratically on his motorcycle and leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit. Twenty-two-year-old Seth Shealey of Flippin was booked into the Marion County Law Enforcement Center and later released on a bond of $2,500.
According to the probable cause affidavit, an Arkansas state trooper was running a stationary radar on the Flippin bypass, when he noticed the motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed and aggressively passing other vehicles. The bike was reportedly “zig zagging” between the first and second lanes of traffic and passing each vehicle it encountered, which were in a close group of approximately five. The trooper’s radar clocked the motorcycle at 75 miles per hour.
The trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the motorcycle fled. It reportedly reached speeds greater than 100 miles per hour during the pursuit on U.S. Highway 62/412. The motorcycle was reportedly passing vehicles in no-passing zones, in curves and at the crests of various hills. At least once, the bike utilized the shoulder to make a pass.
The chase continued to Yellville, but the motorcycle slid off the roadway when the suspect attempted to turn south onto Arkansas Highway 14. The trooper caught up, exited his patrol unit, gave the motorcyclist commands to get off the bike and attempted to pull him off the bike by a back pack strap. The trooper lost his footing and fell, and the motorcyclist again took off. The trooper was able to get a tag number and description from the bike.
The motorcycle and the suspect were later spotted at Walmart in Flippin by a city officer. He made contact with the suspect, identified as Shealey, who reportedly admitted his part in the pursuit. He allegedly said one of the reasons he fled was he didn’t believe authorities would be willing to chase him.
Shealey faces a felony count of fleeing in a vehicle (substantial risk) and misdemeanor counts of refusal to submit to arrest, reckless driving, speeding more that 15 miles per hour over, improper passing on the left, improper passing on the right and operation of a motorcycle without endorsement.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI