A Lonoke County man, 30-year-old Randy L. Brown of Ward, was the driver of a vehicle reported stolen in Cabot that collided with a Newton County patrol unit following a high-speed chase Aug. 20.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the chase began when Brown spotted a Searcy County patrol unit and backed onto U.S. Highway 65 near its intersection with Grapevine Road and into oncoming traffic in both lanes. His actions reportedly caused a semi-tractor trailer and a passenger car to swerve to miss an oncoming vehicle in the opposite lane.
When the Searcy County deputy stepped out of his vehicle and yelled at Brown to stop, he did so. The deputy noted Brown was shirtless and a female passenger in his car was wrapped in a blanket. Brown provided the deputy with both a fake name and date of birth and said he did not have his driver’s license with him.
When the deputy returned to his vehicle a second time with the driver’s license of the passenger, Lacey Hirsh, Brown sped away as the officer was radioing dispatch with the new information. An age and address for Hirsch were not available in online court documents. She is wanted by different law enforcement agencies around the state on unrelated charges.
A pursuit began, reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, with Brown swerving his vehicle from side to side and passing a semi-tractor trailer and a car on a double yellow line. The chase continued into Newton County, where Brown’s vehicle collided with a patrol unit, veering off the roadway and striking a Dollar General Store and a retaining wall before coming to rest.
Brown then jumped from his vehicle in a final attempt to evade arrest. However, a Newton County deputy tackled him to the ground and placed him in restraints.
Officers were able to ID Brown when a wallet was found in his pocket. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a needle containing a clear liquid believed to be methamphetamine. However, online court documents do not reflect charges connected with the discovery.
Brown was transported to North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison for treatment of his injured shoulder. He was then booked into the Searcy County jail.
During the investigation into the incident, it was learned the vehicle Brown was driving was reported stolen from Cabot and his driver’s license was suspended. Brown reportedly told law enforcement the keys were in the ignition of the stolen vehicle, and he and his passenger were just “joy riding.”
Brown has been charged with felony counts of fleeing and theft by receiving, as well as misdemeanors of driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, obstructing governmental operations and improper display of license tags. A warrant for “retaking prisoner” was issued by the Arkansas Department of Correction/Parole Division.
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