LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Troopers with the Arkansas State Police have been involved in at least seven instances of using a TVI/PIT maneuver in just the span of 4 days.
The latest use of these maneuvers happened from Dec. 29, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024, according to a press release from ASP. State police also call the technique a TVI maneuver, which is used to stop a fleeing vehicle by turning it sideways and causing the driver to lose control.
On Dec. 29, the maneuver was used in two separate chases, with the first happening in Mountain Home on Highway 62. The chase exceeded speeds of 140 mph and the PIT maneuver resulted in the trooper's car overturning while ending the pursuit.
The suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, fleeing, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance, and endangering the welfare of a minor.
That same day, ASP employed the maneuver near West Memphis along I-40 east on a driver suspected of an attempted armed carjacking. Although the high-speed chase ended, four suspects ran from police into a nearby wooded area. Only three people were arrested and four guns were found inside the vehicle.
The following day on Dec. 30, 2023, ASP performed another PIT maneuver along I-40 east after receiving calls from West Memphis Police about a stolen vehicle. During that maneuver, the suspect's car reportedly crash into another vehicle.
In Wynne, another incident happened that same day as local police called ASP for assistance.
According to police, the driver had illegal drugs in the vehicle and began fleeing from authorities. ASP said they began pursuing after receiving a call at 11:30 that night. Police said that the vehicle reached up to the 120 mph before being intercepted.
On Dec. 31, 2023, ASP found "multiple vehicles doing donuts" near Colonel Glenn and David O'Dodd Road in Little Rock around 1:15 a.m.
From there, police said that one of the drivers drove away along Colonel Glenn before driving into oncoming traffic on University Avenue with no headlights at 130 mph.
A trooper used the PIT maneuver on the driver as they approached the intersection of University Avenue and Chicot Road and the driver was arrested.
And then on Jan. 1, 2024, a 35-year-old man was shot and killed by police after leading officers on a high-speed chase.
The pursuit of the suspect began in Benton and ended in Little Rock when an ASP trooper used a PIT maneuver on the suspect's vehicle on I-30 near the University Avenue exit.
The suspect reportedly fired at officers who then returned fire and struck the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
That same day, Arkansas State Police began pursuing a different vehicle that was driving over 90 mph on Highway 69 near Independence and Jackson County.
Authorities said that they driver allegedly refused to pull over and instead ran from the trooper, increasing their speed to 130 mph.
The chase was led north into Moorefield as ASP used the PIT maneuver to force the driver off of the roadway. The suspect was later arrested after running into a wooded area.