CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. — An Arkansas State Police trooper used a tactical vehicle intervention to stop a fleeing SUV on Interstate 40 in the early hours of Oct. 9, according to an incident report. The maneuver sent the vehicle into the left guardrail, ending a pursuit that reportedly reached speeds over 100 miles per hour.
Trooper First Class Dairren Evans wrote in his report that he spotted a dark-colored SUV traveling west near the 277-mile marker just after midnight. Evans observed the vehicle weaving through traffic at high speed without its headlights on. Although traffic conditions prevented him from recording a radar reading, the trooper later paced the SUV at over 100 mph.
Evans stated that he activated his emergency lights and siren near the 276-mile marker, but the driver continued westbound, passing vehicles on the right shoulder and navigating erratically through traffic. The trooper described several unsuccessful attempts to perform a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) as the driver swerved and braked erratically.
Eventually, Evans was able to execute the maneuver, spinning the SUV—a Ford Escape—into the left guardrail where it came to a stop. The driver, identified as 31-year-old Brandon M. Bourgeois of Memphis, Tennessee, exited the vehicle and laid down on the roadway. Another trooper arrived shortly afterward, and they took Bourgeois into custody.
According to Evans’ report, Bourgeois grabbed at the trooper’s hands during the arrest, kicked the windows of the patrol vehicle, and issued threats, including one to stab an officer. Bourgeois reportedly claimed he had been using methamphetamine for several days. This statement, documented in the incident report, remains uncorroborated by a toxicology test.
Bourgeois also complained of pain and requested medical attention, the report said. After being transported to Baptist Crittenden Hospital for evaluation, he was cleared and subsequently booked into the Crittenden County Detention Center. Evans noted Bourgeois refused to provide a urine sample during his hospital visit.
The report lists several charges against Bourgeois, including felony fleeing, first-offense drug-related driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a chemical test, reckless driving, speeding more than 15 miles per hour over the limit, driving without headlights, failure to carry liability insurance, obstructing governmental operations, and second-degree terroristic threatening.
No injuries to law enforcement officers or other motorists were reported during the pursuit.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.