FORT SMITH -- The Sebastian County prosecutor announced Wednesday that a police officer did not break the law when his vehicle fatally struck a man pushing a motorcycle in August.
Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue said in a statement that after reviewing police investigation reports on the Aug. 6 fatality there was no evidence that suggested criminal responsibility in the death of Jonathan Leroy Logston, 26, of Heavener, Okla.
Recounting the facts of the case in his statement, Shue wrote that Logston was pushing a motorcycle north in the inside southbound lane of U.S. 271 at 3:30 a.m. when Fort Smith officer Jarrod Taylor struck Logston while responding to a call.
Taylor had reported the area of the road was poorly lit and Logston had no lights on the motorcycle. Taylor said he hit his brakes and tried to swerve to miss Logston but couldn't turn away in time.
A woman who was driving in the area around the time of the accident stepped forward as a witness, Shue's report said. She said she saw Logston holding up the motorcycle in the outside southbound lane. He was wearing no helmet or reflective gear and the motorcycle lights were off. She swerved abruptly to avoid hitting him, Shue's statement said.
Shue wrote that the autopsy report from the Arkansas medical examiner's office said Logston died from injuries to his head, neck, torso and extremities. Logston's death was classified as an accident.
State Desk on 10/13/2016