FAYETTEVILLE -- A police officer was hospitalized after his vehicle rolled over and crashed after being shot at during a pursuit Tuesday on Arkansas 45 in Goshen.
Officer Michael Freeman was treated at Washington Regional Medical Center, according to the Goshen Police Department.
Freeman became involved in a chase about 2:30 a.m. after he tried to stop the driver on a traffic violation, according to Goshen Chief Michael Ball.
Ball said Freeman tried to stop a small, silver or light-colored passenger car for speeding and reckless driving. After a short pursuit shots were fired from the suspect's vehicle and Freeman's vehicle left the road and rolled end over end before landing in woods north of the highway. The incident happened just west of Twin Bridges, Ball said.
Police said radio communication was lost when the electronic equipment in Freeman's Ford Explorer went out as a result of the crash and initial attempts to reach Freeman by phone were unsuccessful.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office eventually contacted Freeman by phone but he was unable to provide his location because of his injuries, Ball said. The Sheriff's Office, Elkins and Fayetteville police departments, Goshen Fire Department and Central Emergency Medical Services all responded.
Freeman was found in his vehicle by searchers who followed a trail of debris from the vehicle. Ball said the Explorer travelled about 400 feet after leaving the road and was hidden from view in the woods.
No suspects in the chase have been found, police said. Ball said initial reports are two suspects were in the vehicle and it left the area westbound on Arkansas 45.
Ball said the Arkansas State Police are investigating the accident.
NW News on 09/18/2019