A car chase that began in Texas ended in an Arkansas creek Thursday with a suspect hiding behind a log, authorities said. No one was hurt.
On Thursday afternoon, Hempstead County sheriff's deputies were notified that Texas Department of Public Safety troopers were pursuing a vehicle into Arkansas, Sheriff James Singleton said.
Deputies were told by a dispatcher that the pursuit was on U.S. 67 near the town of Fulton. The vehicle turned onto Arkansas 355. The driver took that road to Arkansas 195, then later turned onto Hempstead County Road 49, authorities said.
Deputy Reyn Brown located the Texas troopers on the county road where the fleeing vehicle stopped, but the driver fled on foot. The suspect ran north through a wooded area, jumped into a pond, swam to the other side and continued to flee on foot, troopers said.
Once other deputies arrived, Brown, Investigator Justin Crane, Deputy Jimmy Bush and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officer Jeff Neal began searching the wooded area where the suspect exited the pond.
Officers said they found footprints that appeared to have crossed a creek. The footprints indicated the suspect was barefoot, authorities said.
While searching the area, deputies confirmed the suspect was Bin Burgees, who had a felony warrant for his arrest in Hempstead County and the city of Hope, authorities said.
"Officers continued following the creek bank east searching for Bin," Singleton said. "Officers were able to locate Bin hiding behind a large log, on the bank of the creek in the water. Officers were able to place Bin under arrest without incident. Officers walked Bin out of the wooded area."
Burgees was taken to the Hempstead County jail. He was charged with three counts of fleeing, residential burglary, and careless and prohibited driving. He is awaiting a first court appearance on those charges and is awaiting pending charges in Texas.
Metro on 08/05/2018