Suspect who fled from state police pleads guilty to charges

An Emmet man who fled from Arkansas State Police earlier this year in a reportedly stolen pickup truck and then fled on foot, resulting in injuries to a trooper, pleaded guilty to charges Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.

Dale Edward White, 18, who had remained in custody since his arrest June 28, pleaded guilty to a felony count of fleeing in a vehicle and a misdemeanor count of second-degree criminal mischief and was sentenced to four years’ probation, fined $1,500 and ordered to pay $420 in court costs and $300 in restitution to the trooper.

Additional charges of fleeing on foot, speeding, reckless driving and multiple traffic violations were withdrawn after the case was transferred to circuit court from Garland County District Court. No theft charges related to the vehicle were filed.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on June 28, around

2 a.m. Trooper Ryan Wingo observed a white pickup truck traveling southbound on Central Avenue with a non-functioning taillight. He followed the vehicle and noted the driver was unable to maintain his lane and was repeatedly hitting the curb.

After Wingo attempted to make a traffic stop in the 3600 block of Central, the truck merged into the left lane and began to speed up. While traveling southbound the vehicle occupied both lanes and was traveling about 70 mph in a 45 mph zone and then changed lanes multiple times.

Around the 4500 block of Central, Wingo attempted to “pit the vehicle” while it was traveling about 100 mph. The driver put on the brakes and the truck began rotating counterclockwise. Wingo tried to pin the truck with his front bumper, but the truck continued to drive, now headed north.

The truck turned onto Higdon Ferry Road and Wingo attempted the pit maneuver again, this time successfully causing the truck to spin into the ditch where it was disabled.

The driver, later identified as White, exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot into the southbound ditch. Wingo said he lost his footing and fell while attempting to pursue White, but regained his footing as he fled into the woods.

Wingo closed the gap between them and was able to deploy his Taser and take White into custody.

White reportedly stated he fled because he had recently stolen the vehicle. Wingo reportedly sustained minor cuts and damage to his uniform and was informed he might need stitches for his left arm abrasion.

White wrote a letter to Judge John Homer Wright which was submitted to the court on Sept. 27 in which he apologized to the court and to Wingo. He wrote, “I realize what I did not only put me at risk but anyone else on the road that night.”

He also wrote, “I realize the road I am headed down is not one I want to stay on.”