Trooper's Narrative:
On August 17, 2026, I, Trp. Anthony Freeman
#140, attempted to stop a maroon sports bike traveling east on East Main Street
in Russellville. As I attempted to catch up to the bike for not having a license plate, the motorcycle turned onto Valley Park
Drive. I decided to wait on East Main due to the driver making a U-turn to come back out. As the motorcycle was approaching, I
initiated my emergency lights and stopped in front of the motorcycle facing head-on. At that point, the driver made a left-hand
turn back onto East Main Street and began to flee.
Once the motorcycle took off, I initiated my sirens and notified Troop J Communications that I was in pursuit. The motorcycle
began reaching speeds of 90mph in a posted 40mph zone. As we approached the Local Tire Shop, the motorcycle turned left
onto Shamrock Blvd. While traveling north on Shamrock, the motorcycle reached speeds of 80mph in a 35mph zone. Before
reaching AR-331, a Semi Truck was pulling out from Pilot, turning onto Shamrock Blvd. The motorcycle squeezed through a
small opening and continued traveling, running a stop sign and turning left onto AR-331.
After turning onto AR-331, I saw the motorcycle run a red light and turn left back onto East Main Street. Once back on East
Main Street, the motorcycle turned left back onto Shamrock Blvd. Instead of making the full loop, the operator decided to turn
into the Local 216 Training Facility parking lot. Instead of chasing him into the parking lot, I waited for him to come back out. As
the motorcycle came back out, the operator turned left, heading south on Shamrock Blvd. When we approached the stop sign,
the motorcycle ran the stop sign and turned right onto East Main Street.
Once back on East Main Street, Trooper Tucker Rhodes
#385 was waiting in the eastbound lanes. As the motorcycle
approached Trooper Rhodes, he blocked the westbound lanes to try and cut the motorcycle off. The operator of the motorcycle
decided to split two vehicles, where he impacted the driver's side mirror of the vehicle in the outside lane. After shattering the
mirror, the motorcycle continued traveling west. As we approached the intersection of Main and AR-331, the motorcycle split
more vehicles and ran another red light. Once we got through the intersection, the motorcycle continued traveling west,
reaching speeds of 90mph in a posted 40mph. As we approached the intersection of Main and Elmira, the motorcycle began
slowing down. Due to my brakes being hot, I bumped the rear tire with my front bumper. The motorcycle then proceeded to
pass a truck in the outside lane, ran another red light, and turned right on North Elmira.
Once on North Elmira, Trooper Rhodes took primary, and the motorcycle turned into Russellville Furniture Store’s parking lot.
Trooper Rhodes continued on North Elmira to cut the motorcycle off, and I followed the motorcycle into the parking lot to try and
box him in. While in the parking lot, the operator of the motorcycle decided to try and make a left-hand turn while watching
Trooper Rhodes. Due to the operator not paying attention, the motorcycle turned right in front of me, and as I applied my
brakes the motorcycle ran into my push bumper. After impacting my push bumper, the operator lost control of the bike and
wrecked out in the northbound lane of traffic.
Trooper Rhodes and I blocked the bike in and began giving commands to the operator. We were able to place the suspect into
custody without any further incident.
After getting the operator’s wallet, I was able to identify the driver as Muncci Brayden
Stafford. After reading Mr. Stafford his Miranda Rights, I asked him why he was running, and he told me that he was
going through something due to losing his grandma. I asked Mr. Stafford if he had anything in his backpack, and he replied no,
that he simply ran because he panicked. Due to Mr. Stafford’s cuts, we called for non-emergent EMS to come evaluate Mr.
Stafford. After Mr. Stafford was evaluated, Trooper Rhodes transported Mr. Stafford to the Pope County Detention Center.
After Mr. Stafford was medically cleared from the hospital, I transported Mr.
Stafford back to Pope County Detention Center, where I turned him over to a correctional officer. Mr. Stafford was charged with
the following.
5-54-125
(3) - FLEEING - FELONY - VEHICLE OR CONVEYANCE - SUBSTANTIAL DANGER OF DEATH
5-38-203(b)(1) - CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - 1ST DEGREE (DAMAGE - $1,000)
27-50-308 – RECKLESS DRIVING 1ST
27-51-104 – CARELESS AND PROHIBITED DRIVING
27-16-303 – DRIVING ON SUSPENDED
27-22-104 – NO LIABILITY INSURANCE
27-14-314 - DRIVER OF MOTOR VEHICLE FAILURE TO REGISTER 1ST OFFENSE
27-51-201 (27-51-302)(7) - SPEEDING - MORE THAN 15 MPH OVER LIMIT
27-51-601 – FAIL TO OBEY STOP SIGN
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