A local man who was being sought on felony warrants after allegedly fleeing from Hot Springs police last year with children in his vehicle was arrested Saturday night after reportedly briefly fleeing from Arkansas State Police.
Jerimiah Bryce Thomas, 27, who lists a Hobson Avenue address, was taken into custody shortly after 8:30 p.m. and charged with the HSPD felony warrants for fleeing in a vehicle, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, three counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, punishable by up to six years, and misdemeanor reckless driving.
From the encounter with state police, he was charged with misdemeanor counts of fleeing on foot, resisting arrest and violation of a no-contact order, each punishable by up to one year in jail, and second-degree criminal mischief, and obstructing government operations for allegedly giving a false name at first.
Thomas, who lists no prior felony history, was being held on a $17,000 bond on the local charges and a zero bond hold out of Conway for a failure to appear warrant and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit on the felony warrants, on Aug. 25, 2023, shortly after 7 p.m., HSPD Officer Trey Smith made a traffic stop on an unlicensed gold Buick Regal on the King Expressway, just prior to Carpenter Dam Road, and made contact with the driver, identified as Thomas, and three juveniles who were in his vehicle.
A computer check revealed the Conway warrant, so Smith contacted his supervisor regarding the children in the car. At that point, Thomas allegedly drove off, reaching speeds of 93 mph in a 65 mph zone on the expressway. He then exited onto Carpenter Dam Road where he was seen driving on the shoulder, and passing other vehicles in the roadway.
Due to his "manner of driving," Smith terminated the pursuit, but warrants were later issued.
According to the affidavit on Saturday's charges, ASP Sgt. Kevin Steed made a traffic stop on a white Chevrolet passenger car that did not have a license plate, pulling into a parking lot in the 500 block of Mountain Pine Road, shortly after 8:30 p.m.
The female driver gave him her Arkansas ID and he was going to cite her for not having insurance, but a computer check also revealed her license was suspended and that she had an active protection order against a male named Jerimiah Thomas.
Steed had noted the female had a male passenger, so he made contact with him and asked to see if he had a valid driver's license so he could operate the car. The passenger stated he did not have it with him. When asked for his name and date of birth, he allegedly gave a false name and could not immediately give his age, noting, "I would be around 26."
Steed states he became concerned the passenger could be the Thomas she had the order against so he checked on his computer and found a photo of him, confirming he was "in fact the one sitting in the passenger seat." He also discovered the felony HSPD warrants and the warrant out of Conway.
Steed and Troopers Daniel Theiss and Hunter Grubbs, who had arrived to assist, had Thomas exit the passenger seat and move to the rear of the car. He complied and began to place his cellphone in his pocket. Steed asked him to put his hand behind him and Thomas allegedly began to flee on foot across Mountain Pine Road.
The three troopers pursued Thomas across the highway and ordered him to stop, but he allegedly would not. Grubbs then deployed his Taser and "briefly subdued" Thomas. Once the Taser stopped, Thomas reportedly tried to flee again and began fighting the troopers as they tried to "gain control of his arms."
Thomas was allegedly trying to overpower Grubbs and Theiss "by placing his arms around them" and then attempted to get off the ground. All three of them were finally able to "use the necessary force" to get Thomas handcuffed.
LifeNet was called to the scene to check a laceration to Thomas' face and to remove the Taser probes. It was determined Thomas needed to be taken to an emergency room for the laceration. After being treated, he was booked into the detention center shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday.
Once the scene was secured, Steed discovered his hat had been struck by a vehicle and "was destroyed." It was also determined the shirts of Theiss and Grubbs were ruined from the blood stains from Thomas. The total amount of damages to the hat and shirts was determined to be $285 and was "due to the actions of Mr. Thomas," so the additional criminal mischief charge was filed and the fleeing on foot charge was upgraded because of the damages.