Parole absconder allegedly flees ASP, attempts to escape
A local parolee sought on an absconder warrant was charged Monday with felony escape and multiple misdemeanor charges after a vehicle pursuit by Arkansas State Police and later allegedly trying to flee from the hospital.
Caleb Michael Brian, 37, who lists a Grand Ridge Terrace address, was charged with third-degree escape, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and misdemeanor charges of fleeing in a vehicle, fleeing on foot and driving on a suspended driver’s license.
Brian, who was also cited for driving a vehicle with no tags, no insurance, no seat belt, speeding, driving left of center, and failure to maintain control was being held on a zero bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 2 p.m. Monday, Arkansas State Police Trooper Zechariah Whitney was patrolling in the area of Thornton Ferry Road when he saw a white Chevrolet Tahoe southbound on Thornton Ferry and noted it had expired tags.
He activated his lights and siren to make a traffic stop and caught up to the Tahoe as it turned onto Imperial Court, but the vehicle continued to the end and then turned into a circle driveway. Then the Tahoe turned back onto Imperial headed back toward Thornton Ferry as Whitney went around it and stopped in front of it in an attempt to make the driver stop.
The vehicle reportedly went around Whitney “in the grass” and headed south on Thornton Ferry as Whitney notified dispatchers he was in a pursuit and broadcast a description after dispatchers confirmed the tags were expired.
The Tahoe turned onto Beach Haven Road and attempted to turn onto Leola Street, but Whitney drove up next to it to prevent it from turning so they continued on Beach Haven. Trooper Justin Parker arrived to assist as the Tahoe attempted to turn onto Haggard Loop but was blocked again.
Whitney attempted a pursuit immobilization technique, or PIT, maneuver on the driver’s side of the Tahoe in the 300 block of Beach Haven. The Tahoe was traveling at such a slow speed at that point it rotated in a counterclockwise direction and was blocked by Parker’s unit.
Whitney and Parker got out to attempt to take the driver, later identified as Brian, into custody, but he threw the Tahoe into reverse and went around both ASP units, headed west on Beach Haven. Parker took the lead in the pursuit as Brian turned right on Leola and then onto Shore Acres Drive and back to Thornton Ferry.
Parker used a PIT maneuver again and was successful, causing the Tahoe to spin off the roadway to the left where it overturned and came to rest on its passenger side. Brian was removed and taken into custody, but taken to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs to be checked out.
Brian allegedly attempted to leave the hospital at one point, but was taken into custody again by Parker and taken to the Garland County Detention Center where he was booked in shortly before 7:30 p.m. Monday.
It was later determined Brian had a warrant for failure to appear out of Boone County and a parole absconder warrant.