Roland Police Officer Paul Moreland said that at about 7 p.m. he attempted to stop a 1996 Honda Civic at Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 64 in Roland for a traffic violation. He said the occupants in the Honda were not wearing seatbelts and the driver failed to use a signal when crossing several lanes of traffic.
Moreland said when he attempted to make the stop, the vehicle slowed down to 15 or 20 miles per hour and pulled to the side of the interstate, but then "just took off."
Moreland intended to make the stop to warn the driver to use signals when changing lanes and to put their seat belts on.
"It sure turned out different," Moreland said.
Moreland said during the pursuit on Interstate 40, they reached speeds of up to 105 miles per hour. He said an Arkansas State trooper took over the chase at the state line, where the pursuit continued through Van Buren and across the Midland Boulevard Bridge into Fort Smith. The driver then lost control of the vehicle on North Sixth Street in Fort Smith and crashed. One of the passengers fled the scene on foot, but was apprehended.
Moreland said two occupants in the vehicle were taken to local hospitals for minor injuries, but no officers or members of the public were injured.
The driver, identified as Sean Edward Beagles, 22, was arrested, along with two passengers. Moreland said the driver had a suspended driver's license and a warrant for a petition to revoke his probation. He said another passenger also had a parole violation. The second passenger reportedly had misdemeanor warrants for failure to pay fines.
"They had a good reason to run," Moreland said.
Moreland said the suspects may face felony charges in Arkansas. He said the driver faces municipal charges in Oklahoma for attempting to elude a police officer, driving under suspension, and various traffic violations.
