Details have just been released about a high speed pursuit in August that injured a Boone County deputy. Arrested following the pursuit and facing 16 charges, including two felonies, was 43-year-old Ronnie Troy Edward Patrick of Harrison. Injured was Deputy David Everhart who sustained a fractured wrist and a head injury. He was treated and released at North Arkansas Medical Center.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened in the late evening hours of Aug. 28 when Deputy Everhart was on patrol and noticed a vehicle, later determined to be driven by Patrick, speeding. When the deputy got behind the vehicle it accelerated at a high rate of speed. The deputy was driving at 100 miles-per-hour and unable to catch up with Patrick’s vehicle.
Patrick’s vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Cottonwood and Arkansas State Highway 43 before turning onto the highway. He then passed vehicles in a no passing zone before reaching speeds of 120 miles-per-hour in a 45 miles-per-hour speed zone.
The pursuit continued onto Cowetta Falls Road with speeds at 90 miles-per-hour until the vehicles came to a left hand curve they could not negotiate at the high rate of speed. Both vehicles left the roadway at approximately 50 miles-per-hour, hit a steep ditch, and went airborne before crashing into some trees. Both vehicles were disabled in the crashes.
The deputy exited his patrol car and observed Patrick in the passenger seat of his vehicle. He told the deputy “John Williams” had been driving and fled into the woods. Other deputies and officers from the Harrison Police Department arrived and searched the area, but did not find anyone.
Deputies looked at Patrick’s vehicle and determined he was most likely the one driving. He was not wearing a seatbelt and damage to the windshield was consistent with his injuries. During questioning, he admitted to being the driver of the vehicle. He also admitted to consuming alcohol, although a blood alcohol test showed he was under the legal limit.
Patrick is facing felony charges of fleeing in a vehicle with serious physical injury and aggravated assault. Misdemeanor charges include obstruction of governmental operations, public intoxication, two counts of reckless driving, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to obey a traffic device, overtaking a vehicle on the left, driving left of center, not wearing a seatbelt, not having insurance, having fictitious tags and failure to register a vehicle. He is free after posting $15,000 bond.
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