A local man was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges Wednesday night after a high-speed pursuit on his motorcycle followed by a brief foot chase and troopers having to deploy a Taser.
Dustin Taylor Birchett, 26, who lists a Marion Anderson Road address, was taken into custody around 8:15 p.m. and charged with a felony count of fleeing in a vehicle, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, fleeing on foot and reckless driving.
Birchett, who lists no prior felony history, was also cited for speeding, careless and prohibited driving, two counts of failure to stop at a red light, one count of failure to obey a stop sign, driving a vehicle without tags, no liability insurance, operating a motorcycle without a license, driving left of center and improper passing on the left.
He remained in custody Thursday in lieu of bonds totaling $4,000 and is set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Garland County sheriff's deputies were attempting to stop a black and green sportbike with a male operator that was westbound on Highway 70 with speeds in excess of 100 mph.
Arkansas State Police Trooper Justin S. Parker headed toward their location as deputies advised they had lost sight of the suspect. Parker turned north onto Pearcy Road and spotted a motorcycle matching the description headed south, so he turned around and got behind it, activating his lights and siren to make a traffic stop.
The suspect continued fleeing south toward Amity Road, running the stop sign as he went through the intersection. Parker noted the suspect "carelessly reached speeds in excess of 100 mph and showed disregard for other motorists as he crossed into oncoming lanes, passed vehicles in a no-passing zone and forced motorists off the road."
The suspect reached the intersection of Amity Road and Highway 7 south and turned onto Highway 7 headed north, running a red light as he did so. Trooper Ryan Wingo joined the pursuit near the 600 block of Amity Road.
The suspect continued to veer into oncoming traffic as he continued north and "passed vehicles in the no-passing zone on the bridge" near Long Island Drive.
As they neared the city limits, Parker saw Sheriff's Cpl. Felix Hunter had blocked the southbound lane with his patrol vehicle. Parker noted this was "the last stretch of highway before reaching the heavily populated downtown Hot Springs area" so he sped up to position his car slightly in front and to the right of the motorcycle to force him to slow down.
He noted he "funneled him" between his and Hunter's unit and slowed to a speed that narrowed the gap and forced the suspect to come to a halt as he became pinned between the two patrol cars. At that point, the suspect, later identified as Birchett, jumped off his motorcycle and fled on foot.
Wingo pursued him and deployed his Taser with the probes making contact and causing Birchett to fall to the ground. Parker moved to place him in custody but Birchett allegedly refused to comply with commands to put his hands behind his back. Parker notes he had to force his hands behind him to handcuff him.
LifeNet responded to check Birchett for any possible injuries, but he was ultimately cleared with no injuries and taken to the Garland County Detention Center without further incident.