Witnesses told authorities that a man fatally shot himself as officers approached his pickup after a police chase Tuesday on U.S. 65 in Van Buren County, the Arkansas State Police said Wednesday.

The man was identified as Devin Pearson, 24, of Clinton, state police spokesman Bill Sadler said.

Deputies from the Van Buren County sheriff’s office and officers with the 20th Judicial District’s Drug Task Force were present when the shooting occurred, Sadler said in a news release.

Special agents of the state police’s criminal investigation division are leading an investigation into the encounter, Sadler said. Results of that probe will be submitted to Prosecuting Attorney CodyHiland for review.

Sadler said a state police trooper, Cpl. Kip Stringer, stopped Pearson on U.S. 65 near Bee Branch at 2:06 p.m. Tuesday.

“Pearson refused to comply with a request from the trooper to exit the vehicle and fled in the pick-up truck he was driving as Corporal Stringer attempted to open the driver’s door,” Sadler said in a news release.

Stringer was knocked to the ground but not hurt, according to reports.

Later, sheriff ’s deputies and drug task force officers caught up with Pearson as he drove south on U.S. 65 toward Damascus.

“During a short pursuit Pearson reportedly fired a handgun at the officers who were [closing in] on the truck,” Sadler said. “At least one deputy returned gunfireand struck Pearson’s truck.

“Witnesses reported that as officers pulled up alongside the truck, Pearson used the gun to take his own life,” Sadler added.

Asked whether those witnesses were police officers, Sadler said he could not be more specific because the investigation was still in its early stages.

Sadler said Pearson was stopped because of a traffic violation.

Van Buren County Sheriff Scott Bradley did not return phone messages seeking comment.

Pearson was pronounced dead at the Ozark Medical Center in Clinton. His body and evidence from the shooting scene have been sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock.

Asked why drug taskforce officers got involved in the matter, Sadler said in an email, “Why these officers were in the area is anecdotal in the investigation, however I’m sure the agents will have some perspective from the officers with regard to their assignment at the time of the pursuit.”

Hiland, the prosecutor, said two drug task force members went to the scene to assist sheriff ’s deputies. “They weren’t part of the initial chase,” Hiland said.

On why the drug task force got involved, Hiland said, “I think they were just in the area. Anytime you have a shooting like that and officers are in danger, you need other officers” to assist.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 11/29/2012