
Driver refuses to stop for Arkansas State Police - Goes home due to medical issues. Your thoughts?
Trooper's Report:
On March 19th, 2024, at approximately 11:15 PM, I, Trooper James Booth, was driving southbound on I-430 when I noticed a
vehicle speeding on the river bridge. I caught up with the vehicle at the Rodney Parham exit and ran the license plate, which
showed an Arkansas license plate AAG46I that had expired in 2022. When the traffic light turned green, the vehicle accelerated
to 51 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone. The driver, later identified as Draethan Ford, immediately turned into the
McDonald’s parking lot to evade me. I followed him to the parking lot and tried to stop him, but he drove around my patrol car
and headed north on Breckenridge Drive while running a red light. Despite my emergency lights and siren, Mr. Ford continued
to drive at a speed of approximately 35-40 miles per hour, and he turned right onto Catskill Road, which led to Old Forge Drive.
He still failed to yield to my emergency lights and siren. Eventually, he turned right onto Sanford Drive and stopped in front of
his residence. I got out of my car and ordered Mr. Ford to place his hands on the hood. I then placed him into custody. While
speaking to Mr. Ford, he informed me that he was headed home to take his medicine and asked me to lift his shirt. I could see
a medical tube in his stomach. I explained to Mr. Ford that he should have pulled over to the right when he saw emergency
blue lights behind his vehicle. He kept repeatedly saying that he was just trying to get home. I told him that if he had pulled
over, we wouldn't have ended up in this situation. After a brief conversation with the sergeant on duty, Mr. Ford was release
with the following traffic violations: 1. Speeding - More than 15 miles over the limit, 2. No liability insurance, 3. Driver of motor
vehicle failure to register 1st offense, 4. Fail to yield to emergency vehicle
After further investigation it was determined that fleeing was appropriate action of violation. 5-54-125(d)(2) 2023: FLEEING -
VEHICLE OR CONVEYANCE - EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT
