A Royal man allegedly driving a stolen vehicle while impaired was arrested late Tuesday after fleeing from an Arkansas State Police trooper and crashing into a house.
Michael Cobb McNabb, 31, who lists a Foust Lane address, was taken into custody shortly after 11 p.m. and charged with felony counts of unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, theft by receiving over $5,000, punishable by up to 10 years, and misdemeanor counts of fleeing in a vehicle, first-degree criminal mischief under $1,000, driving while intoxicated, drugs, first offense, and reckless driving.
McNabb was being held on bonds totaling $15,000 and was set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, ASP Sgt. Kevin Steed was working patrol near the Mountain Pine junction when he saw a black Subaru SUV with tags that looked altered. A computer check showed the license plate returned to a different vehicle so Steed followed the SUV as it turned onto Albert Pike from Thornton Ferry and sped up to 60 mph.
Steed noted the driver was veering out of his lane and sped up to 80 mph as he passed Cajun Boilers, 2806 Albert Pike. When Steed activated his lights and siren to make a traffic stop, the vehicle sped up more and began to flee.
The driver turned onto Weston Road at a high rate of speed "showing no regard for other motorists or the public." Steed noted the driver "could not maintain his lane" and almost wrecked several times. He also allegedly hit his brakes "in an attempt to make me ram his vehicle," Steed said.
Steed was able to avoid crashing into the SUV as it continued onto Sterns Point into a residential area and then onto Cliff Loop where it collided with a residence and finally came to a stop.
The driver jumped out and began running toward the lake with Steed in pursuit. He lost sight of him at one point so he broadcast his description to other troopers and Garland County sheriff's deputies who had responded.
A few moments later, sheriff's Deputy Shane Tatum located a man matching the description, later identified as McNabb, on Airport Road and took him into custody. Steed went to the location and reportedly confirmed McNabb was the man he had been pursuing who fled the vehicle.
Steed noted McNabb's feet were wet and he "appeared to be tired and out of breath." He reportedly admitted he ran because he was scared.
Once at the detention center, it was noted McNabb appeared to be impaired so he was asked to perform field sobriety tests. He failed one and then refused to complete a second one. It was noted he "appeared drowsy" and had slurred speech.
The affidavit notes damages to the vehicle were estimated at $3,500 and damage to the residence was estimated at $2,500.
According to court records, McNabb was arrested on June 26 near Searcy on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, meth, with purpose to deliver, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia, with a hearing set for Dec. 3 in White County Circuit Court.
Local on 11/21/2019