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Man runs from deputy second time

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WESTERN GROVE — Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said a 33-year-old man on a four-wheeler ran from a deputy Wednesday night for the second time and was airlifted for treatment of injuries.
Wheeler said Deputy Adam Sirmons was working his first shift after graduating from the police academy when he saw 33-year-old Matthew Mills riding the ATV at Western Grove. Sirmons initiated a traffic stop, but Mills crossed Highway 65 near the Shamrock Apartments and a chase ensued.
Wheeler said the pursuit ran into both Marion and Searcy counties before Mills finally wrecked the four-wheeler near Pindall.
The vehicle rolled over on top of him and he was unconscious for a time, but Wheeler said he was alert and talking when he was taken to North Arkansas Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Due to medical circumstances, Mills was airlifted to a Springfield, Missouri, hospital for further treatment.
Even though Sirmons was on his first shift after attending the Arkansas Law Enforcement Academy, he had been a part-time deputy for a few years prior to that.

Wheeler said Mills allegedly ran from Sirmons on another earlier traffic stop.
Online court records show that traffic stop was in late February 2020. The state alleges the pickup Mills was driving spun rocks while on Boat Mountain Road and those rocks damaged the transmission of the patrol unit Sirmons was driving at the time. Wheeler said Sirmons had been assigned to patrol Western Grove and the car he was driving belonged to the city.
Wheeler said Mills was wanted on a warrant out of Newton County. Court records show a warrant was issued for Mills’ arrest in August 2020 after he failed to appear in court on charges from the February pursuit.
The sheriff also said Mills was wanted on multiple warrants from different jurisdictions. A Harrison Police log shows Mills was wanted on an HPD warrant for failure to appear in court on DWI, speeding and possession of controlled substance with bond set at $3,266.
Wheeler said Mills will face fleeing, reckless driving and other traffic violations from the Wednesday night pursuit.



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