BY MELANIE BUCK & LEANN DILBECK –
Law enforcement officials have now captured the suspect that evaded and led multiple agencies through LeFlore County in Oklahoma
and Polk and Scott Counties in Arkansas.
The high-speed pursuit initiating in Oklahoma during a routine traffic stop entered Polk County on Hwy 270 Monday afternoon with speeds in excessive of 105 mph and proceeded into Scott County before crashing at the Y-City 270/71 Junction.
The suspect evaded Oklahoma law enforcement, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Game & Fish, Polk County Sheriff’s Department, Mena Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Department and Waldron Police Department through multiple road blocks before crashing the small silver car he was driving and escaping on foot.
Polk County Chief Deputy Scott Sawyer said that law enforcement had the intersection to Hwy 270 completely blocked with their vehicles and officers were prepared to shoot out the tires as the suspect approached but as word spread of the dangerous erratic driver, several civilian cars had lined the shoulder of the road; therefore, making it too risky for officers to take the shot. Sawyer said the driver again attempted to evade the road-block and was unable to negotiate the curve and crashed in the ditch without injuring anyone else at the scene.
Search dogs were called in to assist with the apprehension of the suspect who was ultimately captured at approximately 5:10 p.m. Authorities have released his identity as Kevin Perry Coffey, age 38, of Moore Okla. At the time of his apprehension, authorities were still unsure what caused him to flee from a routine traffic stop.
Authorities said the chase began in Wister, Okla. when the police chief there attempted to make a routine traffic stop. Sawyer said the only evidence uncovered in the car was a small amount of marijuana.
Coffey remains in custody in Scott County where he will await charges there, in Polk County, and in LeFlore County in Okla.
About Author
Jeri Pearson
Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.
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