Arkansas State Trooper Terminated After Mistaken PIT Maneuver
What to Know
- The trooper, hired in October 2024, mistakenly stopped an uninvolved vehicle during a pursuit on I-630.
- No injuries were reported, and the trooper apologized to the motorist after realizing the mistake.
- The driver of the mistaken vehicle was identified as Johnny Williams, who later surrendered to police and faced multiple charges.
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- An Arkansas State Police trooper has been terminated after conducting a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) on the wrong vehicle during a pursuit.
The incident occurred on Interstate 630 in Little Rock around 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 18, according to a news release.
The trooper, who was hired in October 2024 and was still on probation, mistakenly stopped and executed a TVI on an uninvolved motorist after briefly losing sight of a fleeing suspect vehicle. No injuries were reported.
According to Arkansas State Police (ASP), the trooper initially observed a white Buick Envista traveling 92 mph in a 60-mph zone on I-630 eastbound. The vehicle was stopped near the 6-mile marker, and the driver, identified as Johnny Williams, 38, of Little Rock, was contacted. The trooper detected a strong odor believed to be marijuana and confirmed Williams was driving on a suspended license.
When instructed to exit the vehicle, Williams refused and fled the traffic stop, continuing eastbound. The trooper returned to the patrol unit, briefly lost visual contact, and advised dispatch that a pursuit was underway.
After reentering traffic, the trooper observed a white SUV ahead that was not speeding and exited I-630 at exit 5. Believing the SUV to be the suspect vehicle, the trooper conducted a TVI to prevent the pursuit from entering city streets.
After the SUV stopped, the trooper exited the patrol unit and ordered the driver, a female motorist, out of the vehicle at gunpoint. At that point, the trooper realized the vehicle was not the suspect’s and that the fleeing driver had escaped. The trooper apologized to the uninvolved driver at the scene.
ASP said the trooper was immediately placed on administrative work duty and was terminated Wednesday morning. The agency said it has extended apologies to the uninvolved driver, who requested to remain unidentified and requested privacy.
“We are thankful no one was injured in this incident, and we appreciate this motorist accepting the situation with grace,” said Colonel Mike Hagar, director of the Arkansas State Police. “Even though we know humans sometimes make mistakes, a mistake of this nature has serious consequences.”
Williams later turned himself in to Arkansas State Police Troop A headquarters on Jan. 20. He was arrested on felony charges of fleeing and misdemeanor charges of failing to obey a police officer, driving on a suspended license, and speeding more than 15 mph over the posted limit.
The Arkansas State Police reported that since 2016, troopers have been involved in 4,719 pursuits and have conducted 1,428 TVIs. Of those TVIs, two have involved mistaken identification of the suspect vehicle.
“The Arkansas State Police is committed to protecting the public while holding itself to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability,” Hagar said. “In this incident, the trooper quickly recognized the mistake, ensured the uninvolved driver was safe, and took responsibility on scene. We remain focused on continuous improvement to maintain the trust and confidence of the communities we serve.”