Benton man held after chase, crash

Hot Springs pursuit put other drivers in danger, police say

HOT SPRINGS — A man sought on multiple warrants was arrested Monday night on numerous charges in connection with a police pursuit and crash into a mobile home.

Lloyd David McElmurry, 48, who lists a Benton address, was taken into custody around 7 p.m. and charged with felony counts of fleeing in a vehicle and first-degree criminal mischief, each punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of theft by receiving, fleeing on foot, driving on a suspended license, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, reckless driving and two counts of second-degree criminal mischief.

McElmurry, who also had felony warrants for theft of property and two counts of failure to appear, was also cited for driving a vehicle with no tags, speeding, three counts of driving left of center, four counts of improper passing on the left, fictitious tags, failure to maintain control and failure to obey a stop sign.

McElmurry remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of bonds totaling $10,500 and a no-bail parole hold and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 1:30 p.m. Monday, Arkansas State Police Trooper Justin Parker was patrolling in the area of Albert Pike and Thornton Ferry roads when he saw a blue Chevrolet Tahoe stopped at the traffic light on Thornton Ferry and a check of the license plate showed the plate had been reported stolen.

The Tahoe turned onto Albert Pike headed west as Parker activated his lights to make a traffic stop. The Tahoe slowed and turned into the Exxon parking lot but then circled behind the store and accelerated across the parking lot “with disregard to the safety of the store patrons.”

As the Tahoe exited back onto Albert Pike headed west, Parker activated his siren and notified dispatchers the vehicle was fleeing and he was in pursuit. He noted the Tahoe crossed left of center and passed several vehicles in a no-passing zone.

The Tahoe turned onto Crystal Hill Road and continued fleeing, again crossing the centerline several times, while traveling at a high rate of speed in a 45 mph zone. Parker noted the driver “showed complete disregard for the safety of fellow motorists” as he repeatedly pulled into the path of oncoming vehicles who were “forced into the ditch” to avoid a head-on collision, with two of the vehicles sustaining damages.

The Tahoe ran the stop sign as it crossed the Blacksnake Road intersection and then as the driver maneuvered around a left curve, he lost control, left the roadway and crashed into a privacy fence, a metal carport and finally into the side of a mobile home, causing a total of $15,000 in damages. No one was inside the residence at the time of the collision.

After the collision, the driver, later identified as McElmurry, exited the vehicle and fled on foot toward the rear of the residence and “out of sight.” A manhunt involving Arkansas State Police and Garland County sheriff’s deputies ensued, with multiple areas being searched, but the suspect could not be located at that time.

A few hours later, Trooper First Class Dylan Robbins was advised the suspect from the earlier pursuit was in the area of the 100 block of Cassidy Way and headed there. He spoke to a woman in that area who said McElmurry had just walked away from her residence and was headed east toward Blacksnake Road.

Robbins drove toward Blacksnake and spotted a man matching the description of the driver who fled. Upon seeing the trooper, the man, later confirmed to be McElmurry, began to run across a private field and then into the woods as Robbins pursued him.

Robbins released his police dog, which began to chase McElmurry. Robbins located McElmurry trying to hide from him and ordered him to come out or he would send in his dog and “he would be bitten.” At that point, McElmurry surrendered and was taken into custody. A computer check revealed several warrants and a parole hold for him.

Once at the detention center, Parker questioned McElmurry after reading him his rights and he stated he was high on meth and “made a poor decision,” police said. He said he circled around the Exxon and “thought about stopping” but then told himself, “You can take him!” so he fled, the affidavit said.