Boone County man facing charges following high speed pursuit, damage to police cruiser

A Boone County man is facing multiple charges following a wild high speed pursuit last month that nearly led to a head-on collision, went near Goblin Drive during the morning rush hour and caused a police cruiser to become disabled during a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) maneuver. The subject of the pursuit was 26-year-old Abraham Godina Garcia of Harrison.According to the probable cause affidavit from the Arkansas State Police, a trooper initiated a traffic stop on Garcia for speeding on U.S. Highway 62/412 west of U.S. Highway 65. Garcia pulled over, but as the trooper was getting out of his patrol car, Garcia took off.

Garcia turned onto State Highway 392 and speeds reached 80-miles-per-hour. After traveling through Batavia, Garcia passed a vehicle on a double yellow line, nearly striking an oncoming vehicle head-on. The trooper noted he could not perform a TVI due to the curvy road and amount of morning traffic.

As the continued towards Harrison, speeds reached 105-miles-per-hour. Spike strips were deployed at the intersection of Highways 392 and 397, but Garcia was able to dodge the strips.

As the pursuit got into Harrison and approached Goblin Drive, there was more traffic, including a school bus stopped at red light. Garcia could not maneuver though the traffic, so he drove through the grass in front of the Boone County Government Center and onto Arbor Drive.

A Harrison Police unit then attempted a TVI. Garcia swerved into the police vehicle, causing the passenger side tires to come approximately two feet off the ground. The TVI failed and the police unit was disabled.

A Boone County Sheriff’s Unit and the trooper continued the pursuit through a transmission power line cut out, several yards and a residential area. The sheriff’s unit was eventually able to perform a TVI in a yard and push the back part of Garcia’s truck in a tree. The trooper then rammed the front part of the truck, immobilizing the vehicle.

Boone County deputies broke the driver’s side window and removed Garcia from the truck. He resisted law enforcement and buried his hands under his body, but was eventually taken into custody.

Garcia is facing felony charges of fleeing and first degree criminal mischief along with misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest; speeding; driving while license is cancelled, suspended, revoked; and having no insurance. He also faces a penalty enhancement for being a habitual offender meaning he has been convicted of between one and four felonies. Garcia is free after posting $50,000 bail.

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