TEXARKANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02/15/05
Cpl. Bart Veal
Public Information Officer
903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)
903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)
On Monday 02/15/05 at 11:47pm Texarkana Arkansas Patrolman Sam McJunkins was traveling in the 1900 block of East 9th street when he observed a 2002 Chevrolet truck matching the description of a truck that had been stolen from an elderly victim in Texarkana Texas. The criminals stole the truck after kidnapping and assaulting the elderly man.
Officer McJunkins confirmed the ownership of the truck and activated his lights in an attempt to investigate the situation. The driver of the truck refused to stop, which led to a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit that began in the 2000 block of east 9th led to an apartment complex in the 3300 block of Washington where the driver stopped briefly and avoided road spikes set down by assisting patrol officers. Following the driver’s avoidance of the road spikes the driver fled east on Hwy 82. Texarkana Arkansas officers gave chase until Lafayette County Sheriff’s Deputies intersected with the suspect vehicle on Hwy 39 near Lewisville AR. The suspects continued to elude deputies until entering Louisiana and where Bossier Parish Sheriffs Deputies joined the pursuit. The pursuit ended when the suspects exited the stolen truck on a dead end street in Plain Dealings LA. Deputies apprehended two black females when the vehicle stopped. The black male driver fled on foot but was apprehended a distance from the truck.
Deputies identified and arrested the driver, 19 year-old Shoddric Mitchell of Texarkana Texas. The passenger's 22 year-old Tonya Marie Brown and a juvenile were also arrested for possession of stolen property.