The second suspect arrested after leading authorities on a high-speed chase across three counties last year was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to felony charges in Garland County Circuit Court.
Shaneah Marie Ann Self, 28, a felon who listed a Mountain Pine address at the time of her arrest, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by certain persons and was sentenced to six years in prison and to felony failure to appear and was sentenced to eight years, with the sentences to run concurrent. Court costs were expunged for time served.
Her accomplice, Terry Ray Merriott, 44, of Hot Springs, also a felon, pleaded guilty on March 26 to felony counts of fleeing, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by certain persons and possessing or using prohibited articles in jail and was sentenced to six years in prison on each count, to run concurrent.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Nov. 28, 2017, shortly before 2 a.m., Garland County sheriff's Cpl. Jon Lane saw a gray Pontiac Grand-Prix cross the centerline on the King Expressway and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver didn't stop and sped up, running a stoplight at Temperance Hill and Higdon Ferry roads.
The vehicle's occupants, later identified as Merriott and Self, switched seats while the vehicle was in motion shortly after running the stoplight. The vehicle headed south on Central Avenue, continuously increasing speed.
Self threw a .45-caliber handgun with a fully loaded magazine and several other items out of the passenger window during the pursuit. As the vehicle continued down Central, Merriott attempted to ram two sheriff's units and run them off the road while traveling over 85 mph.
The pursuit continued through Garland, Hot Spring and Clark counties, finally ending in Arkadelphia after Arkadelphia police deployed spike strips, flattening the two front tires on the vehicle which continued about half a mile before Self and Merriott jumped out and fled on foot. They were both apprehended after a short foot pursuit.
In searching the vehicle officers located items believed to be stolen along with bolt cutters, flashlights and black gloves. On the way to jail, Self made several spontaneous statements after hearing the radio traffic that a gun was located, saying the gun belonged to her and that she swallowed over 3 grams of meth and several pills to prevent her boyfriend, Merriott, from getting in trouble.
Self was released on $2,500 bond on Jan. 22, 2018, and pleaded not guilty to charges on Feb. 5, 2018. She failed to appear at a disposition hearing on April 2 and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She was arrested again on Aug. 26 and had remained in custody since then.
Local on 10/17/2018