Police find firearms and Molotovs in U-Haul high-speed chase
TONTITOWN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Two arrests were made in the U-Haul high-speed chase that crossed state lines and injured an officer, according to Tontitown Police Department.
Robert Mercier, 21, and Trenton Johnson, 21, of Michigan were arrested on three counts of aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, possession of destructive devices, felony fleeing, 2nd degree battery, four counts of criminal mischief, resisting arrest as well as multiple felony charges from other agencies, according to a press release.
Two arrested on I-49 in Springdale following pursuit involving stolen U-Haul van
Locust Grove Police Department of Oklahoma was pursuing the driver of an alleged stolen U-Haul cargo van, chasing the suspects east on U.S. Highway 412.
According to the Locust Grove Police Department, on February 7, the department was alerted of a stolen vehicle by its camera system in the city. The department says police found the vehicle within minutes and tried to stop the vehicle which had an Arizona license plate.
The Locust Grove Police Department says the vehicle failed to stop which began the pursuit. Police say the vehicle struck a car and continued to evade law enforcement into Arkansas. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol later took over the pursuit.
The chase ended after a Tonitown police officer performed a tactical vehicle intervention resulting in the officer’s vehicle rolling over multiple times and injuring the officer.
Tonitown Detective Keith Lindley talked about why the officer decided to use his vehicle to end the chase.
“We think of the priority of life in these types of situations. It’s like someone shooting a gun in a crowd of people but the gun is the size of a cargo van. So we are gonna try to do whatever we can to get that to stop,” Lindley said.
The officer who stopped the chase was injured in the crash but was treated and released from a local hospital.
After the pursuit, officers located firearms and improvised flammable devices, commonly referred to as “Molotov cocktails,” inside the U-Haul van.
The officer was treated at a local hospital and released with minor injuries, according to a news release.
Police said that speeds during the pursuit reached over 120 mph and ended on Interstate 49.
ASP involved in high-speed chase
Police said that the suspects damaged four Tontitown police cars in addition to multiple cars from other agencies spanning between Locust Grove and Springdale.
Mercier and Johnson are currently being held at the Benton County Detention Center. Mercier and Johnson are also wanted by the Westland, Michigan authorities for attempting to run over multiple police officers, according to the news release.
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