BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. — A routine bicycle stop escalated into a foot chase, two Taser deployments, and a scuffle over a weapon before the suspect escaped, according to an incident report from Arkansas State Police.
The incident occurred just after 9:40 p.m. on Aug. 16 near Main and North 13th Streets in Blytheville. Trooper Tanner Seal reported seeing a man, later identified as 42-year-old James J. Spears Jr., riding a bicycle without front or rear lights in the westbound lanes. Spears also allegedly failed to signal when he turned onto a one-way street.
Seal activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop Spears, who initially ignored commands to halt. When Seal pulled alongside the bicyclist near 13th and Ash Streets, Spears stopped briefly before fleeing on foot through a church parking lot. According to the report, Spears shouted, “Y’all are always messing with me,” and added, “I ain’t going back to prison.”
Seal caught up with Spears at the edge of the parking lot and deployed his Taser, which caused Spears to fall. However, Spears reportedly got back up before Seal could handcuff him. A second Taser deployment also failed to subdue him completely, and during an attempted drive-stun, Spears allegedly grabbed the Taser and struggled to disarm the trooper. Seal regained control of the weapon after approximately 15 seconds and holstered it, the report stated.
Spears then broke free and continued fleeing on foot toward Ash Street. Seal pursued him but fell during the chase, tearing his uniform pants. Spears circled the church building and evaded further capture. Nearby, investigators recovered a wallet holding Spears' ID from the abandoned bicycle, along with other belongings, which were logged into evidence.
Authorities issued several warrants for Spears, citing possible charges including disarming an officer, fleeing on foot, resisting arrest, second-degree criminal mischief, and multiple traffic violations. Jail records show Spears was apprehended on Aug. 25.
Dash camera footage from the patrol vehicle reportedly offers only limited views of the incident, with much of the chase and struggle unclear in the video.
All suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.