High Speed PURSUIT Arkansas State Police vs. Nissan Altima - PIT Maneuver sends car into a tree 🌳🌳
Trooper's Report:
On November 20, 2024, at approximately 11:47 A.M., I was traveling south on United States Highway 63 when a white Nissan
passenger car passed me with what appeared to be an expired license sticker. I turned around to verify if the tags were expired
only to realize that the driver of the car had sped up to speeds greater than 85 miles per hour. I then activated my lights to
conduct a traffic stop.
The driver made an abrupt turn onto Harmony Church Road, and I notified dispatch that I was in pursuit of a white Nissan
passenger car. We continued down Harmony Church Road at speeds over 90 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone. After
traveling down Harmony Church Road for approximately two miles the driver made a left turn onto Harrelson Road. Due to the
high speeds of the turn, the suspect lost control and drove through a chain-link fence belonging to Harmony Church Freewill
Baptist Church.
The suspect continued traveling north on Harrelson Road for approximately a mile and a half at speeds over 100 miles per hour
in a 40 mile per hour zone. While traveling down Harrelson Road, I noticed that the suspect was a white male, and I was able to
give dispatch the tag on the vehicle. After getting a return on the vehicle’s registration, I realized that I had previously
encountered the registered owners of this vehicle. As we approached the intersection of State Highway 35, the suspect ran the
stop sign and made a left turn.
I positioned my vehicle for a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI), and the suspect began driving erratically. After making a tactical
move, I was able to successfully TVI the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle left the right side of the roadway and entered the
northbound roadside ditch of State Highway 35. The vehicle continued traveling in a northern direction before colliding with a
traffic control sign. After colliding with the sign, the suspect vehicle reentered the roadway before traveling off the left side of
State Highway 35, where it collided with a tree.
The suspect exited the vehicle and began running on foot through the woods. I was able to look at the suspect and give a good
description for the units responding to the scene. While waiting for backup, I contacted the registered owner’s family and asked
who was in the vehicle. It was discovered that the vehicle had been sold to former Bradley County Deputy Splawn. I
contacted Ms. Splawn and asked who was in the vehicle. She stated her brother Kayton. I informed her that I needed his name
and date of birth to confirm that he was the driver.
After receiving the information that I asked for, I was able to positively identify Michael Kayton Price as the driver of the vehicle.
While waiting on backup, I noticed a blue cell phone on the driver-side floorboard of the vehicle. I contacted Ms. Splawn and
asked her what kind of phone Mr. Price had and if she could describe it. Ms. Splawn stated yes and began describing the
phone that I had in my possession. I asked Ms. Splawn if she could call the phone so I could verify that it was his phone, and
she said yes. Shortly after, the phone rang and the contact information that was displayed on the screen said “sister.”
Once backup units arrived on the scene, along with the Drew County K-9, we began searching for Mr. Price. After searching for
a lengthy time, the search was called off. Lower Arkansas Towing of Rison towed the suspect vehicle. Mr. Price’s cell phone
was collected for safekeeping. The estimated value of the damaged fence was approximately $2,500. The estimated value of
the damaged sign was approximately $100.
On November 22, 2024, members of Arkansas Probation and Parole went to conduct a home visit at the residence of Troy
Briant, a resident of Cleveland County, where Mr. Price was believed to have been hiding out. As members pulled into the
driveway and exited their vehicle, a white male stood up from working on a motorcycle. Members asked the male subject for his
name before he took off running through the woods. The male subject was identified as Mr. Price. Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission K-9 handlers arrived to assist with searching for Mr. Price but were unsuccessful.
Charges against Mr. Price will be filed with the Cleveland County Circuit Prosecutor for felony fleeing, felony criminal mischief,
two counts of fleeing on foot, speeding, reckless driving, driving on a suspended driver’s license, leaving the scene of an
accident involving property damage, failure to obey a stop sign, and failure to report an accident.
Charges against Mr. Briant will be filed with the Cleveland County Circuit Court Prosecutor for hindering apprehension of a
person who committed a class D felony.