Probation revoked for man involved in high speed chase

Justin Spires (Photo courtesy of Baxter County Sheriff’s Office)

A man who turned what should have been a traffic stop on minor offenses into a high-speed chase during which he tried to ram the vehicles of pursuing sheriff’s deputies appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court April 7 to face the revocation of his probation initially handed down in the chase case.

Several of the more serious charges initially filed against 31-year-old Justin Spires of Mountain Home were dropped and he pled guilty to the remainder on April 27, 2023, including felony fleeing and several traffic infractions.

He was sentenced to four years-probation.

There have been petitions filed to revoke Spire’s probation charging him with various violations of the terms and conditions.

The charges have included failing to report, failing to maintain employment, not reporting address changes, failing to pay fines and fees, evading supervision, failing to do community service as required and testing positive for marijuana.

On Feb. 11, the newest petition seeking the revocation of his probation was filed.

Last week, he pled guilty to violating his probation and was sentenced to three years in prison.

The traffic stop was initiated because Spires was allegedly driving a vehicle with a personalized license plate that did not check back to the vehicle on which it was displayed.

The plate “number” was reported to be LOCKOM. Records indicated the plate should have been on a 1995 silver Ford Windstar minivan, but on the day of the chase, it was displayed on a blue 2011 Hyundai Elantra.

In addition, the exhaust on Spires’ vehicle was reported to be making a very loud noise.

The deputy initiated a lights-and-siren attempt at a traffic stop, but when he saw the blue lights behind him, Spires hit the gas instead of the brake.

Speeds during the lengthy chase were reported to have reached 90-100 miles per hour, according to the probable cause affidavit. The path went along Arkansas Highway 5 South, through the parking lot of the Kingwood Mobile Home Park, into Norfork and then into Izard County.

About three miles after entering Izard County, the vehicle turned around in the driveway of an old shop and headed back toward Baxter County.

During the chase, Spires almost collided with other vehicles and was reported to be “driving all over the road” with little regard for other traffic.

According to the probable cause affidavit, a spike strip was laid by deputies that Spires apparently managed to evade by driving off the road.

A second spike strip was laid by an Arkansas State Police trooper in the 5000 block of Highway 5 South, and Spires drove over it at approximately 70 miles per hour. His vehicle ran off the road and traveled some distance before hitting a tree and coming to a stop.

Spires was taken into custody and transported to the Baxter County Detention Center.

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