Henderson
Brandon Henderson, 18, of Fort Smith was one of three who allegedly beat Leonard “Sandy” Walls, a guard at the Jack Jones Juvenile Justice Center in Pine Bluff, Ark., Saturday.
Henderson along with a 16-year-old and a 15-year-old allegedly attacked Walls and a female guard when the two were doing a nightly bed check around 11 p.m. The three suspects stole a set of keys from one of the officers and escaped.
Roland Police Chief Tommy Sessums said Sebastian County Lt. Chris Johnson and Barling Police Sgt. Darrel Miner spotted Henderson on Towson Avenue, in Fort Smith.
Johnson said Miner contacted him and said Henderson was possibly at a U-Haul store in Fort Smith. He said the two jumped in his unmarked police car and headed to the U-Haul store. Once there they spotted the possible suspect but received a call Henderson was somewhere else.
“About the time we got to the store we received another call that Henderson was trying to rent a car elsewhere so we headed back toward the police department,” Johnson said.
While heading toward the police department Johnson and Miner spotted the U-Haul truck on Towson Avenue.
“We were traveling north when we noticed the U-Haul pickup truck.
“The truck was being driven by a female and had a male passenger. I pulled my unit beside the U-Haul truck and both Miner and I thought the passenger looked like the escapee Henderson,” Johnson said.
According to the report, Miner and Johnson agreed they should stop the vehicle for the tag being obstructed and unreadable.
“I turned on my emergency lights as the vehicle approached Garrison Avenue and 9th Street. The vehicle failed to yield to my lights and siren and continued west over the Garrison Avenue Bridge,” Johnson said. “We pursued the vehicle into Roland, where we were joined by Roland police.”
Johnson said he let the Roland police department take the lead.
“It was seamless, once Oklahoma authorities knew we needed help they were right on it.”
“We were notified of the pursuit when it was on the Garrison Avenue Bridge and coming our way. We had units sitting up on the east end but they got here too quick for us to set up,” Sessums said. “We notified Muldrow and they had a unit waiting for the U-Haul truck.”
Sessums said the pursuit reached speeds up to 100 miles per hour at times. Sequoyah County Sheriff deputies set out spike strips five miles east of Sallisaw near Joyce’s Produce on U.S. Highway 64. Sequoyah County Sheriff Ron Lockhart said deputies set up three different spike strips between Joyce’s Produce and Sallisaw because, “We didn’t want them coming into town.”
“She hit the spike strips, drove about a mile and pulled over to the shoulder,” Lockhart said, “Henderson was cooperative and apologetic when he got out of the vehicle.”
“We did confirm that Henderson was the passenger in the vehicle and the driver was identified as Chelsi Lynn Evans,” Johnson said.
Lockhart said Evans, 19, of Fort Smith was transported to the Sequoyah County Jail and booked on charges of eluding, attempting to elude and harboring a fugitive.
Roland Assistant Police Chief Billy Cannon and Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Stan Roedenbeck placed Henderson in handcuffs. Cannon escorted Henderson to the Sequoyah County Jail and both Henderson and Evans where questioned.
Lockhart said Henderson signed an extradition form and was transported back to Jefferson County by Jefferson deputies. He said Evans posted a $3,000 bond Monday. Lockhart said Evans will be charged with eluding, attempting to elude and harboring a fugitive. Evans initial court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday. Johnson said the Sebastian County Sheriff’s office will seek a warrant for the arrest of Evans for fleeing and hindering apprehension.
Henderson is accused of capital murder, second-degree battery, first-degree escape, aggravated robbery, theft of property and felony fleeing according to the Sebastian County Sheriff’s office.
The two juveniles were arrested at a Van Buren, Ark., convenience store on Monday.
