A high-speed chase on Arkansas highways led to the death of 23-year-old Memphis man Joey Vincent Simmons II, wanted for multiple convenience store robberies. Arkansas State Police (ASP) detailed that Simmons died following a pursuit where he was spotted driving a Toyota Camry north on U.S. Highway 65, south of Bee Branch, Van Buren County. During the chase, Simmons reportedly reached speeds over 100 mph, weaved through oncoming traffic, and even discharged a firearm at troopers before losing control and being ejected from his vehicle, according to a report by WREG.
The tragic incident occurred yesterday around 7:45 AM, adding to a string of similar confrontations between ASP and individuals from Memphis. In a previous chase this year, a 36-year-old Memphis resident was killed after a trooper terminated his vehicle's trajectory, a technique that state policy describes as aggressively putting fleeing suspects "in a ditch," in a bid to protect public safety mainly. Meanwhile, ASP's commitment to their pursuit policy remains unwavering, with Col. Mike Hagar articulating to FOX13, "Our troopers will not look the other way. We will do what is safest for the public. And that's why we've instructed them that as soon as you can articulate the suspect is fleeing, put them in the ditch."
Simmons had been identified as the primary suspect in armed robberies in both Conway and Damascus before the fatal pursuit. He allegedly discharged a firearm from inside his vehicle before losing control, which led to his vehicle crashing into a wooded area where he was pronounced dead at the scene. The report from Action News 5 also confirmed that no troopers were injured during the high-speed chase.
