Two people have been arrested in Marion County following a fleeing incident involving a sheriff’s patrol unit striking the car being pursued.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday, 32-year-old Stephanie Kerley of Flippin, a passenger in the fleeing vehicle, has been charged with five felony drug offenses. Kerley’s bond was set at $35,000.
The vehicle was driven by 32-year-old Jason Biddle of Mountain Home, who is charged with four felony drug offenses. Biddle’s bond was set at $20,000.
Both Kerley and Biddle have previous convictions on drug offenses.
As KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news reported Tuesday, Biddle wasted little time in squandering an opportunity he had been given in late July to seek help with his drug addictions by walking out of a Care Center Ministries program.
The affidavit noted the incident leading to the arrest of the two began when a Marion County deputy observed a white car around 3:47 on the morning of Oct. 10th parked at the intersection of County Roads 7057 and 7092.
The vehicle then traveled down County Road 7055 and began to accelerate. The deputy noted his vehicle reached 60 miles per hour in a 45 zone, with distance between his unit and the white car expanding.
As the driver of the white car attempted to negotiate a turn, he lost traction, with the vehicle spinning out and coming to rest in a ditch striking a fence. The car began trying to drive out of the ditch, with the deputy attempting to pull his car in front of the vehicle as it pulled out.
The deputy was unable to stop on the wet grass and collided with Biddle’s car as it drove toward the officer. The damage to Biddle’s vehicle was limited to a dented plastic bumper with a scuff mark. The patrol unit appeared undamaged.
The deputy pointed his weapon at the occupants of the vehicle, later identified as Biddle and Kerley, and advised them to show him their hands. Biddle was identified as an absconder with the Department of Community Corrections. Kerley is a probationer with DCC.
Biddle said he was sorry, and he did not know he was fleeing from a cop. He stated he did not see the patrol unit lights at first. When asked why he did not stop once he realized he was being pursued by a cop, he said he was already running at that point.
When asked if there were items in his car the officer should know about, Biddle reportedly said “drugs” and added needles. He responded to a question from the officer saying he did not know if he would be poked searching the car because everything scattered in the pursuit.
A search revealed substances appearing to be methamphetamine, marijuana, and Xanax, along with drug paraphernalia.
Biddle said the drugs were his, and he did not want “her” to get in trouble. Kerley said she did not know what was in the vehicle. She said they were parked in the road to have sex, and Biddle fled when the officer drove up behind them.
Kerley and Biddle have been charged with possession with purpose to deliver methamphetamine, a Schedule VI controlled substance, and a Schedule IV, V stimulant controlled substance, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia. Kerley faces an additional felony drug offense, and both were charged with misdemeanor fleeing counts.
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