A Hot Springs man was charged with felony fleeing Tuesday after he allegedly fled from a state trooper during a traffic stop then led him on a short foot chase in the eastern part of the city.
Mark Wesley Wilson, 48, who lists a McNanna Court address, was taken into custody around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and charged with felony fleeing in a vehicle, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle, punishable by up to one year in jail, and fleeing on foot, punishable by up to 30 days.
Wilson was being held on $4,500 bond and was set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Arkansas State Police Trooper Lukas Tankersley was on patrol in the Spring Street area when he saw a gray Dodge Avenger turn onto Spring from East Grand Avenue that had a yellow license sticker on the license plate, indicating it was expired.
Tankersley ran the registration through the terminal in his patrol unit and found it had expired in December 2017. He turned on his blue lights, but the driver refused to stop and began to flee.
During the pursuit, the driver reportedly committed numerous traffic violations, including cutting through grassy areas and passing on double yellow lines, which was a "hazard to the other drivers on the roadway," the affidavit said.
After several miles, the driver reportedly slammed on the brakes and stopped the vehicle on Garden Street. The driver, later identified as Wilson, exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
After a short foot chase, Tankersley apprehended Wilson. The owner of the vehicle later said Wilson did not have permission to drive the vehicle and he had told Wilson he couldn't drive it "and he chose to do so anyways," the affidavit said.
Local on 08/23/2018