A gas drive-off in Clarksville on Thursday afternoon resulted in a high-speed chase and a manhunt that involved a helicopter, tracking dogs, three law enforcement agencies and infrared tracking equipment.
According to a news release from the Johnson County sheriff’s office, William Eugene Hammer, 48, of Sikeston, Mo., was being held in the county jail in lieu of $20,000 bond on multiple charges including theft of gas, felony fleeing, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an injury accident and four counts of criminal mischief.
The news release stated that Hammer and passenger Tonya Goodman of Missouri drove off after filling the vehicle tank with $60 worth of fuel at a Clarksville gas station about 5 p.m. Thursday.
Two Arkansas State Police troopers began to chase the 2005 Dodge Dakota that Hammer was driving west on Interstate 40, the release stated. Hammer left the interstate and drove north on Arkansas 164. As he neared the intersection with Arkansas 103, according to the news release, he drove off the road, through a barbed wire fence and into a field. Eventually, he drove through three fences trying to elude the troopers.
He drove through one field three times, finally crashing into a dry creek bed where he fled into the woods on foot leaving Goodman with minor injuries in the car, according to the release. She was treated and released from Johnson Regional Medical Center and was not arrested, Johnson County Sheriff Jimmy Dorney said.
The release stated that Clarksville police and JohnsonCounty sheriff’s deputies arrived in the area within minutes, Dorney said, and set up a perimeter. Tracking dogs were brought in but lost Hammer’s scent after two miles.
A state police helicopter arrived from Little Rock and scanned with infrared radar for about 2 1/2 hours but could not locate Hammer, according to the release. The dogs picked up Hammer’s trail again 45 minutes later, but searchers couldn’t locate Hammer in the thick underbrush.
A ground search continued for about two hours before being scaled back, according to the release. But about 12:40 a.m. Friday, a resident in the area reported that a man had come to his home asking for a ride into town. Officers responded to the home and, using a handheld infrared device, located Hammer lying in a hole made by a fallen tree and arrested him.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 12/08/2012