PURSUIT ENDS IN SPIKES! Man flees police with child - Arkansas State Police and K9 search for driver

Report:

On 7/9/24 at approximately 9:50 am, I, Trooper Joshua Landreth, observed a gray Ford Escape displaying AR license plate
AML76M traveling southbound on Interstate 555. The license plate expired in 04/2024. I conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle
at mile marker 39. I contacted the operator, who identified himself as Dreyon Crabtree.

At the same time, I observed a small child in a car seat in the vehicle’s rear seat. I could not get a driver’s license return on the name
given. During the encounter, the operator drove away from the stop location.

I pursued the vehicle. Within a short time of the pursuit beginning, Trooper Brian Merrill joined as a secondary unit. The
suspect, later identified as Timothy Payton Crabtree, fled southbound on Interstate 555 at a speed exceeding 100 mph.
Crabtree took the Highway 463 exit, then traveled southbound on Highway 463 through the towns of Bay and Trumann.

Crabtree passed several vehicles while traveling in the turn lane and ran red lights while fleeing through Trumann’s city limits,
traveling at a speed of more than 100 miles per hour. Crabtree continued southbound on Highway 463 until getting back on
Interstate 555 southbound. Crabtree traveled southbound on the interstate until taking exit 13 and traveling southbound on
Highway 149. Crabtree continued to travel at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Crabtree then traveled eastbound on Highway
42 into Crittendon County. Crittendon County Deputies were able to set up and deploy spike sticks on Highway 42 just south of
Interstate 55. Crabtree drove over the spike strips, causing three of the vehicle’s tires to go flat.

While attempting to avoid the spike strips, Trooper Merrill lost control of his vehicle, causing him to travel off the Highway into a
large ditch. His vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop. Due to injuries sustained in the crash, Trooper Merrill was
transported to St Bernard’s by ambulance.

Crabtree continued to travel on Highway 42, approximately a half mile east of Interstate 55, where he came to a stop, then fled
from the vehicle on foot, leaving a four-year-old unattended in the vehicle. Crabtree fled into a thick ditch line to the north of the
Highway. Poinsett County Deputy Wes Gibson assisted me in locating Crabtree in the ditch with his K9 partner. Deputy Gibson
deployed his K9 partner into the ditch, where Gibson fled. In a short time, the K9 located Gibson inside thick brush where he
attempted to conceal himself. The K9 bit Crabtree on the lower right leg.

Crabtree fought against the K9 to get free and tried to
pin the K9 against the ground with the weight of his body. The K9 hung on to Crabtree until he could be pulled from the brush
and placed under arrest by Officers.

Crabtree was transported to St Bernards, where he was treated for minor injuries and then taken to the Craighead County
Detention Center.

Crabtree’s careless actions put the public’s lives in substantial danger of death or serious physical injury. Crabtree also created
a significant risk of death or serious physical injury to the 4-year-old child in the vehicle at the time of this incident.

Crabtree is charged with the following:

Fleeing in a vehicle- 5-54-125- Class C Felony
Endangering the welfare of a minor first degree- 5-27-204-Class D Felony
Reckless Driving-27-50-308
Obstructing governmental operations- 5-54-102
Fleeing on foot- 5-54-125
Resisting arrest- 5-54-103
Driving on a suspended license- 27-16-303
No liability insurance- 27-22-104
Expired vehicle tags- 27-14-701


00:00 - Please like & subscribe!
01:18 - Traffic Stop
11:34 - Driver takes off
36:35 - Roadblock!
39:06 - Spikes
39:18 - Secondary Trooper crashes!
39:54 - Driver stops and flees on foot
43:08 - Kid gives up his name
44:50 - K9 bites him
46:13 - Charges