Man charged after high-speed chase
HOT SPRINGS — A local man was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges Wednesday night after a high-speed pursuit on his motorcycle followed by a brief foot chase and troopers having to deploy a Taser.
Dustin Taylor Birchett, 26, was taken into custody around 8:15 p.m. and charged with a felony count of fleeing in a vehicle, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, fleeing on foot and reckless driving.
Birchett was also cited for speeding, careless and prohibited driving, two counts of failure to stop at a red light, one count of failure to obey a stop sign, driving a vehicle without tags, no liability insurance, operating a motorcycle without a license, driving left of center and improper passing on the left.
He remained in custody Thursday in lieu of bonds totaling $4,000 and was set to appear Friday, Aug. 6, in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Garland County sheriff’s deputies were attempting to stop a black and green sportbike with a male operator that was westbound on Highway 70 with speeds in excess of 100 mph.
Arkansas State Police Trooper Justin S. Parker headed toward their location as deputies advised they had lost sight of the suspect.
The suspect continued fleeing south toward Amity Road, running the stop sign as he went through the intersection. Parker noted the suspect “carelessly reached speeds in excess of 100 mph and passed vehicles in a no-passing zone and forced motorists off the road.”
The suspect reached the intersection of Amity Road and Arkansas 7 south and turned onto Arkansas 7 headed north, running a red light as he did so. Trooper Ryan Wingo joined the pursuit near the 600 block of Amity Road.
As they neared the city limits, Parker saw Sheriff’s Cpl. Felix Hunter had blocked the southbound lane with his patrol vehicle. Parker sped up to position his car slightly in front and to the right of the motorcycle to force him to slow down.
He noted he “funneled him” between his and Hunter’s unit and slowed to a speed that narrowed the gap and forced the suspect to come to a halt as he became pinned between the two patrol cars. At that point, the suspect, later identified as Birchett, jumped off his motorcycle and fled on foot.
Wingo pursued him and deployed his Taser with the probes making contact and causing Birchett to fall to the ground. Parker moved to place him in custody but Birchett allegedly refused to comply with commands to put his hands behind his back. Parker notes he had to force his hands behind him to handcuff him.