Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Injured Officer/ Vehicle Pursuit

A Texarkana Arkansas Police Officer was injured after being struck by a vehicle and the suspect was taken into custody following a vehicle pursuit which went on for approximately 70 miles.

The incident began when Officer Bobby Furr, a 15 year TAPD veteran, responded to a report of a trespasser at the T-Town Diner near the intersection of E.54th and Loop 245. The suspect, identified as James Bledsoe (51/w/m Texarkana, TX), had been banned from the T-Town Diner on 12/28/06 following an incident of disorderly conduct. The suspect had returned to the restaurant, and officers located him in his vehicle.

Officer Furr knew the suspect from the previous encounter and advised him that he was under arrest for criminal trespass. The suspect refused to exit his vehicle and when Officer Furr attempted to unlock and open the drivers door the suspect put his truck in gear and sped away from the scene with Officer Furr partially leaning inside the drivers door. The truck fishtailed on the loose gravel alongside Loop 245 and in doing so it struck Officer Furr in the back which threw him into the southbound lane of Loop 245 and knocked him to the pavement. The vehicle narrowly missed running over the officer.

Officer Furr sustained a broken wrist which would require surgery, as well as other bruises. He was being prepared for surgery at the time of this report. He is expected to recover and return to light duty as soon as he is able.

The suspect fled south on Loop 245 and was pursued by several Texarkana Arkansas Police units. Speeds were in excess of 100 mph. The pursuit left the city limits at which time the TAPD officers were joined by Miller County Sheriff's Deputies. The suspect continued travelling south until he reached Spruell Road at which point he exited the highway and continued fleeing east onto Hwy.160.

After a lengthy pursuit the suspect entered Lafayette County and was inolved in a minor collision with a Lafayette County patrol car near Bradley, AR. The suspect was apprehended a short time later after spike strips were deployed in order to deflate the suspect's tires.

Agencies that were involved in the pursuit included TAPD, Miller County, Arkansas State Police, Lafayette County, Lewisville, and Stamps P.D.

The suspect was transported to the Bi-State Jail by a Texarkana Arkansas Police Officer. Bledsoe has been charged with felony charges of Battery 1st and Fleeing, as well as misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and criminal trespass. No bond has been set on the Felony charges.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.