A man accused of killing a Little Rock pedestrian during a police chase in September had heroin in his possession at the time, according to charges filed Monday in the case.
Jordan Matthew Vandenberghe, 24, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He'd already been facing numerous other felony charges, including first-degree murder, in the death of Trendia Horton, 39.
Police said Vandenberghe fled in a stolen Nissan Maxima on Sept. 15, speeding through a mostly residential area of Chicot Road south of Baseline Road. Less than mile after the chase began, he reportedly struck the back of a sport utility vehicle and lost control in the 10000 block of Chicot Road. Witnesses said the Maxima then careened onto the sidewalk and struck Horton and her 18-year-old daughter, Nahtali, as the two were jogging.
The elder Horton was pronounced dead at the scene. Nahtali Horton was severely injured.
Police reported that Vandenberghe also had stolen bank cards and identification cards in his possession. A court affidavit filed Monday states that four syringes, small baggies containing a brown substance, and spoons with an unknown residue were also found in the vehicle.
The brown substance tested positive for 0.17 gram of heroin at the state Crime Laboratory in November, according to the affidavit. Traces of heroin and methamphetamine were found in the residue.
Vandenberghe of Roland appeared Tuesday morning in Little Rock District Court and pleaded innocent to the latest charges in the case. He had already pleaded innocent to felony counts of first-degree battery; fleeing; theft of property and theft by receiving, in addition to the murder charge.
Trendia Horton's death led members of her family, as well as Chicot Street residents, to criticize the police decision to pursue Vandenberghe, since he wasn't involved in a violent offense at the time.
Vandenberghe has provided a statement to investigators "admitting that he fled from police" at speeds between 70 and 90 mph because he had stolen a vehicle the previous day, according to a police report.
It was the second time in as many months that police said they found him with drugs and a stolen car.
The morning of Aug. 15, officers found Vandenberghe passed out in a stolen Toyota Camry at 3700 W. Fourth St. with syringes and drug paraphernalia strewn about the vehicle, a separate police report states.
After he was charged in Horton's death, Vandenberghe was sentenced to one year in the Pulaski County jail in an unrelated case. Court records show he'd been on probation after felony theft and criminal mischief convictions.
Vandenberghe remained in jail Tuesday with a jury trial scheduled for May 25 in Pulaski County Circuit Court.
Metro on 02/24/2016