BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. — Newly released police video shows Arkansas State Police Trooper Theodore Henderson using force to remove a rear-seat passenger during an arrest following a 130-mph pursuit on August 19. The footage depicts the trooper breaking an SUV’s rear window, pulling the passenger by his dreadlocks, and punching him during the encounter.
According to official reports, the pursuit began at approximately 11:21 p.m. on Arkansas 18 near the Big Lake bridge, where Henderson clocked a 2023 Infiniti QX50 traveling 82 mph in a 60-mph zone. Henderson activated his emergency lights, but the driver reportedly accelerated to speeds exceeding 130 mph. The trooper reported reaching over 140 mph while attempting to catch the vehicle.
The chase continued into Blytheville after officers deployed spike strips, puncturing the SUV’s front driver’s-side tire. Police said the driver ran a red light at the intersection of Arkansas 18 and Arkansas 151 before the vehicle was immobilized through two tactical vehicle interventions by Henderson near North 16th and West Walnut streets.
Authorities identified the driver as 25-year-old Adonerus Johnson. Reports indicate Johnson moved from the driver’s seat to the back seat in an apparent attempt to exit through a rear door. Gosnell Police Cpl. Cade Liles ordered Johnson to the ground at gunpoint, deploying a Taser after Johnson continued moving. It reportedly required multiple Taser applications to take him into custody.
Henderson then focused on the rear-seat passenger, identified as 23-year-old Tedrick Washington. Police said Washington did not comply with repeated commands to exit the vehicle and told officers he could not leave. Henderson broke the rear driver’s-side window with a baton and attempted to pull Washington out by his left wrist and hair after several verbal commands went unheeded.
In his report, Henderson stated that Washington resisted by pulling his arm away and bracing himself against a partially opened door. After releasing Washington’s hair briefly, Henderson wrote that Washington "postured up" as if preparing to strike. Henderson then punched Washington in the left side of his face with a closed fist.
Henderson pulled Washington from the vehicle, and officers took him to the ground. Henderson reported delivering a second closed-fist strike to Washington’s left cheek during the struggle, alleging that Washington kept tensing his arms and reaching toward his waist. Separate reports from Cpl. Liles stated that Washington actively resisted by pushing officers and reaching toward his waistband. Videos and reports noted visible bleeding following the encounter.
Pafford EMS personnel examined all three SUV occupants on the scene. No hospital transports were reported.
Washington was later charged with obstruction of governmental operations and resisting arrest. Meanwhile, Johnson faces a series of charges, including felony fleeing, DWI, reckless driving, speeding, and failure to stop at a red light. Police reported Johnson’s breath samples registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.17.
A front-seat passenger complied with officers’ commands and was released without charges.
The Gosnell Police Department determined in a use-of-force review that Liles’ actions, which included pointing a firearm, deploying a Taser, and physically restraining Johnson, complied with the department’s policy. However, no Arkansas State Police review findings regarding Henderson’s actions were included in the released documents. Washington has not issued a public statement regarding the incident, and all parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.