Suspect Arrested After High-Speed Pursuit and Foot Chase in Pike County

A high-speed pursuit and foot chase led to the arrest of a man in Pike County on February 19, 2025. The incident began when an officer from the Glenwood Police Department attempted to stop a black 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe for expired vehicle tags. The driver fled at a high rate of speed, prompting the officer to request assistance from the Arkansas State Police.

According police records, Trooper C. Rollins, who was monitoring traffic nearby, intercepted the suspect vehicle on U.S. Highway 70, where speeds reached up to 135 mph. The suspect continued east toward Bonnerdale and Hot Springs, before making a dangerous left turn onto State Highway 182 toward Amity. The suspect’s reckless driving included crossing into oncoming traffic and failing to yield at a roundabout, nearly colliding with other vehicles.

Due to icy conditions on the road, the trooper’s patrol unit struggled to maintain control during the pursuit. However, after several attempts, a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (T.V.I.) was successfully performed, spinning the suspect vehicle to a stop. The driver then fled on foot into a nearby tree line.

Assistance from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Wildlife Officer Ethan Angel arrived shortly after, and the suspect was apprehended. The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Richard Lemons of Bonnerdale, was found to be a parolee with a prior felony conviction. During the arrest, Lemons mentioned that a firearm was in the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed a loaded AR-15-style rifle, which was seized by authorities.

Lemons was transported to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, where he faces multiple charges, including fleeing in a vehicle, fleeing on foot, possession of a firearm by certain persons, reckless driving, and other offenses. He remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.