An Arkansas woman, identified as 23-year-old Thalia Jones, has been charged after leading an Arkansas State Police trooper on a high-speed chase with her toddler inside the car. The chase ended as a police PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver resulted in a rollover crash, leaving the Jones’ car upside-down in a ditch. Fortunately, the mother and her 3-year-old son miraculously escaped unharmed.
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According to Arkansas State Police (ASP), the incident occurred on May 2 in Mississippi County. The chase began after a trooper attempted to stop a Dodge Charger in Joiner, AR that was traveling 80 miles per hour in a 55 MPH zone.
Police said the driver refused to pull over, resulting in the chase and subsequent PIT maneuver. The police cruiser tapped the back of the fleeing Charger, causing the vehicle to swerve to the left of the road, spinning out of control. After crossing back onto the right side, the vehicle continued to slide into a ditch and flip upside-down, landing on its roof, wheels up.
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Arkansas State Police Trooper Scolds Woman For Taking Him On High-Speed Chase With Toddler Son In Car
As the vehicle comes to a stop, the trooper exits his cruiser, weapon drawn, waiting for the driver to come out. As the trooper demanded the suspect exit the car with hands up, he sees the back door open and little hands emerge from the wreckage.
The trooper, who had called in for backup, radios in that the woman has a toddler with her. The crying child then runs from his mother’s car towards the trooper, who comforts the child and ensures he’s safe. Moments later, the mother crawls out of the overturned vehicle as the trooper holds the child in one hand and his weapon in the other.
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He continued to demand to know, “Why did you run from me with a baby in the car?” Jones said, “I was just going to my mom’s house.” The trooper fired back, “I don’t care where you are going. Why would you do that? Crawl to me.” The trooper eventually handcuffed the woman. She denied speeding and said she ran because she does not have a license.
The trooper continued to scold her for “nearly killing” her kid — who went home with family later at the scene. Jones was charged with speeding, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, child endangerment, and unauthorized use of another person’s vehicle to commit a crime — as the car belonged to Jones’ boyfriend. Authorities also reported the incident to the Child Abuse Hotline.
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