NEWPORT — Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred at the 73-mile marker on U.S. Highway 67 northbound.
On Friday, Oct. 11, around 9:41 a.m., ASP troopers began a pursuit in an effort to stop a vehicle that had driven aggressively toward a marked ASP unit while traveling over 120 mph on U.S. 67 South between Newport and Bradford in Jackson County.
Troopers were able to stop the suspect vehicle near the 80-mile marker on U.S. 67 South, where a standoff ensued. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office closed a portion of the highway while ASP crisis negotiators worked with the suspect to end the incident peacefully. The suspect refused orders to exit the vehicle, however, threatening officers and telling them he had a weapon.
Approximately 30 minutes later, the suspect fled the scene, traveling south in the northbound lane against oncoming traffic at more than 100 mph.
Troopers employed deadly force to stop the suspect, firing at the driver when there was a gap in traffic. The suspect vehicle ran off the roadway into the ditch, where it caught fire.