Violent ROAD RAGE becomes PURSUIT with Arkansas State Police #pursuit #chase #details #domestic

Trooper's Report:

On April 30, 2024, I, Sergeant Stephen Briggs, was traveling west on Interstate 30 near the 135 mile marker. As I continued
westbound, I observed a white Toyota Corolla and a maroon Kia Optima entering I-30 West from 65th Street. As both vehicles
continued on the single lane on-ramp, the Optima pulled alongside the passenger side of the Corolla. I observed the Kia
swerve toward the Corolla forcing the Corolla through the gore of the on-ramp into the I-30 West traffic lanes. Once on the
interstate, the Kia continued traveling along the passenger side of the Corolla, swerving toward the vehicle; forcing the Corolla
into traffic lanes.

At approximately 7:48 a.m., I initiated a traffic stop of the Kia on I-30 West near the 134 mile marker. The vehicle immediately
increased its speed and veered toward the outside travel lane. Troop A Dispatch then broadcasted that the female in the
Corolla called in to report that she was being chased by her boyfriend who was possibly armed with a gun. I informed dispatch
that I was in pursuit with the suspect vehicle traveling I-30 West toward Geyer Springs. Speeds reached approximately 98 mph
before the Kia proceeded recklessly down the right shoulder toward the Geyer Springs exit. The Kia then drove into the median
between the I-30 West traffic lanes and the Geyer Springs off-ramp. The Kia continued through the median until it became
stuck in the mud. I exited my unit and ordered the driver, Darius FLOWERS, to the ground where Trooper (Trp.) Candice Pike
and I took him into custody.

Search incident to arrest of FLOWERS’ person, I located a plastic baggie containing a small amount of marijuana in
FLOWERS’ left pants pocket. I also located a partially smoked marijuana cigar in the left pocket of FLOWERS’ jacket.
During an inventory of the vehicle, Trp. Pike and I located a black backpack in the front passenger seat. The backpack
contained an American Tactical multi-caliber handgun (serial# NS374442) that had one 5.56 caliber round in the chamber and
twenty-five 5.56 caliber rounds in the magazine. I secured all suspected marijuana and firearm/ammunition and provided it to
Trp. Trey Smith for proper storage. The vehicle was towed and stored by Walker Wrecker.

Trp. Smith took custody of FLOWERS and transported him to the Pulaski County Jail where he was charged with the following:

27-16-303: Driving on a Suspended License
27-50-308: Reckless Driving
5-26-306: Aggravated Assault on Family or Household Member
5-54-125: Felony Fleeing
5-64-419: Poss. of a Schedule VI
5-73-120: Carrying a Weapon

Senior (Sr.) Corporal (Cpl.) Cleary Chapman made contact with the victim, [redacted], at Headquarters. Ross provided Sr.
Cpl. Chapman with a written statement and I informed her of the process to obtain a restraining order.

Trp. Smith submitted the marijuana and firearm/ammunition to the Troop A evidence custodian for submission to the State
Crime Lab.

***Note: I was in training during this incident so there is dash cam footage, but no audio from my body mic.***