Police Pursuit Ends In Wreck In Rogers

Officers from the Arkansas State Police, Bella Vista Police Dept. and Rogers Police Dept. investigate a wreck on Horsebarn Road at the I-540 Southbound exit ramp in Rogers on Friday February 7, 2014. Bella Vista officers were reportedly pursuing the Jeep when the accident occurred, involving at least one other vehicle.
Officers from the Arkansas State Police, Bella Vista Police Dept. and Rogers Police Dept. investigate a wreck on Horsebarn Road at the I-540 Southbound exit ramp in Rogers on Friday February 7, 2014. Bella Vista officers were reportedly pursuing the Jeep when the accident occurred, involving at least one other vehicle.

BENTONVILLE — A reported shoplifting in Missouri led to a police pursuit that ended with a wreck near an Interstate 540 exit in Rogers on Friday.

Bella Vista Police Chief Ken Farmer said his department received a call at 2:30 p.m. from the McDonald (Mo.) County Sheriff’s Office. McDonald County authorities were searching for a maroon sports utility vehicle in connection with a shoplifting incident at the Walmart in Jane, Mo.

Police were called about 15 minutes later by an employee at Casey’s General Store on Forest Hills Boulevard, Farmer said. The employee reported some people in the parking lot had been caught stealing the license plate from another vehicle, Farmer said.

The people fled east on Lancashire Boulevard toward Town Center, which brought them near the Police Department, Farmer said.

Officers saw the Jeep enter Bella Vista Way via the northbound off ramp at Town Center, and the pursuit began, Farmer said. The vehicle crossed traffic then headed southbound at speeds of more than 90 mph, Farmer said.

The driver crashed the Jeep into a retaining wall at the rest area across from Lake Bella Vista. Two people jumped out of the Jeep as the driver continued southward.

Arkansas State Police took over the pursuit at exit 86 on Interstate 540, and Bella Vista police continued to follow, Farmer said.

The driver later wrecked the vehicle at exit 83, Farmer said.

State Police handled the wreck. Farmer said two people were in the vehicle when it wrecked.

State Police hadn’t released any information concerning the wreck in Rogers Friday night.

The two people who jumped out of the Jeep got a ride from a passerby. They later called police and were picked up, Farmer said. They were being interviewed by police, and Farmer said they likely will be released with no charges.

The other occupants of the vehicle will only have traffic charges and a misdemeanor theft out of Bella Vista, Farmer said.

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