GRAVETTE -- A high-speed chase which began in Gravette shortly after noon on Oct. 30 ended south of the city on North Mount Olive Road west of Wildwood Way shortly before 1 p.m. after a crash involving a Benton County patrol vehicle and the fleeing suspect's car had occurred.
Jacob Mills, 25, of Hiwasse, Trevor Meeker, 27, of Centerton, and Jennifer Parks, 27, of Bentonville, were taken into custody and transported to the Benton County Jail.
According to Benton County Jail logs, Mills was arrested in connection with careless driving, fleeing in a vehicle with extreme indifference, theft by receiving, fleeing on foot, carrying a weapon, aggravated assault (a Class D felony), criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia. Meeker was arrested in connection with fleeing on foot, resisting arrest, theft by receiving and possession of drug paraphernalia. Parks was arrested in connection with fleeing on foot, theft by receiving and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Benton County Sheriff's Office deputies became involved in the pursuit which was initiated by the Gravette Police Department, according to Sgt. Shannon Jenkins, media spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office. Other agencies involved included Sulphur Springs and Decatur Police Departments. Arkansas State Police was called to investigate the chase.
No injuries were reported, though both the suspect's vehicle and a police vehicle had to be towed. Gravette's fire department and ambulance were dispatched to the chase.
Charles Skaggs, Gravette chief of police, issued the following information in a news release on Oct. 31.
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, at approximately 12:21 p.m., the Gravette Police Department received a call from the Bank of Gravett's motor bank stating that a teller recognized an individual from the previous week who had passed a forged check and believed they were possibly trying to pass another forged check at the drive-through.
Gravette Police Department Officers arrived on scene shortly after. One officer parked behind a black Honda Civic that was parked in the far east stall. The other officer pulled into the exit lane off Third Avenue N.E. Both officers exited their vehicles to approach the Honda to speak with the occupants. As they did, the Honda began to pull out of the stall, attempting to leave the bank. The officer approaching the front of the Honda instructed the driver to stop. Instead, the driver of the Honda accelerated quickly towards the officer. The officer again gave commands for the Honda to stop, but it did not do so, resulting in the officer having to quickly move aside to avoid being struck by the Honda.
The Honda exited the bank headed east onto Main Street, accelerating rapidly. Both officers followed, and a pursuit was called. The Honda then turned south on Fifth Avenue S.E., accelerating and crossing Arkansas Highway 72 without stopping. The Honda continued to Birmingham Street S.E., turning east into a school zone without stopping and crossed Sixth Avenue S.E., traveling at speeds over 50 mph. The Honda turned east on Arkansas Highway 72, then turned south onto Stage Coach Road. Speeds exceeded 90 mph on Stage Coach Road. The Honda then turned onto Fruitwood Road, continuing at speeds over 50 mph, then turned west onto Wildwood Way. An officer approached a civilian weed eating along Wildwood Way who confirmed the Honda was still traveling to the south on Wildwood Way. The Honda then turned east on Mount Olive Road, where it collided with a vehicle driven by a Benton County deputy. The Honda, still being somewhat operable, continued east on Mount Olive, but started losing pieces of the inner front fender and left front tire, eventually driving on the rim. Being unable to be driven further, the Honda came to a stop at the entrance of 17371 Mount Olive Road.
Other units from the Benton County Sheriff's Officer, Decatur Police Department, and Sulphur Springs Police Department had previously joined in the pursuit. The three suspects, Jacob Allen Mills, Trevor Dean Meeker and Jennifer Elaine Parks, exited the vehicle and fled on foot into the driveway of 17371 Mount Olive Road. All three suspects were caught and detained by Benton County deputies and the Decatur Police Department officer. Gravette police officers arrived on scene and all three suspects were transported to the Benton County Jail.
During an inventory of the Honda, a glass smoking device was found lying on the console, along with a black bag in the passenger floorboard. The black bag contained several checkbooks, cell phones and car keys. Some of the checks were later found to have been stolen ... in the Bella Vista area. Further items found are involved with an active theft investigation by Benton County.
The Honda's driver, Jacob Allen Mills, was held for careless driving, fleeing by vehicle with extreme indifference (a felony), fleeing on foot, carrying a weapon, aggravated assault (a Class D felony), possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear for a misdemeanor offense. Trevor Dean Meeker was held for fleeing on foot, resisting arrest, theft by receiving, carrying a weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jennifer Elaine Parks was held for fleeing on foot, theft by receiving and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Chief Skaggs wrote further that "the Gravette Police Department would like to thank the Benton County Sheriff's Office, Sulphur Springs Police Department, and Decatur Police Department, along with the Benton County Department of Emergency Services dispatch operators, for their assistance in keeping these three suspects off the streets of Northwest Arkansas."
General News on 11/07/2018