Overview
- The May 24 pursuit began after a trooper tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation and ended when the SUV lost control, flipped and ejected a four-month-old while all four children under six were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
- Arkansas State Police released dashcam and bodycam footage that shows officers locating the infant in the grass, carrying the baby to safety and removing the other children from the wreck near downed power lines.
- The driver, 28-year-old Tyrice Fletcher, was arrested at the scene and is being held at the Ouachita County Detention Center on charges that include felony fleeing, four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of a defaced firearm and drug-related and vehicle-restraint offenses.
- State police say troopers were not aware children were in the SUV when the stop was attempted, that officers tried PIT/tag maneuvers to end the chase, and that the danger resulted from the driver’s decision to flee while the investigation and pending prosecution continue.
- The widely shared footage has renewed public focus on pursuit policies, child restraint and officer tactics and may prompt reviews of how agencies balance stopping suspects with protecting passengers, especially young children.