What first looked like a rough wreck near Horseshoe Lake turned out to be more show than smash, according to Crittenden County deputies.
Three people were arrested after sheriff's deputies say surveillance cameras caught them staging a crash with a U‑Haul in the Horseshoe Lake community near Highways 38 and 147. Investigators say the scene had been made to look like a two‑vehicle collision, and the people involved later claimed they needed medical attention. Once deputies reviewed video from nearby cameras, they say it quickly became clear the crash had been faked. Two people were booked on charges tied to filing a false report and criminal mischief, and a third was taken into custody after deputies say they discovered a stolen gun and illegal drugs in the vehicle.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage that contradicted the suspects' story and led to the arrests, according to FOX13 Memphis. The station reported that deputies relied on a SkyCop camera along with other surveillance angles to determine the collision had been staged, kicking off a criminal investigation and resulting charges.
SkyCop Footage, Sheriff’s Office Says
The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department said on social media that SkyCop video and additional camera views showed the crash was orchestrated rather than accidental. In a Facebook post, the department noted that the people involved ended up riding to the county jail in a patrol car instead of being transported by ambulance, according to the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department Facebook page.
Charges and Evidence
Two of the individuals were charged with criminal mischief and filing a false report, while a third was charged after deputies say they found a stolen firearm along with suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl in the vehicle, according to FOX13 Memphis. The sheriff's office told reporters the arrests came after a review of surveillance footage and witness statements, and that prosecutors will ultimately decide the formal charges.
The suspects were booked into the Crittenden County Detention Center and remain in custody awaiting arraignment. The sheriff's office is asking anyone who may have additional information or video of the incident to contact investigators as the case continues to unfold.
