Man fleeing police crashes into second car, seriously injuring passengers
Nine charges filed against suspect
April 17, 2019
Charlea Estes-Jones
A police pursuit and vehicle crash resulted in an Arkansas driver's arrest on Monday after the driver and passenger in the other vehicle had to be lifeflighted. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, James R. Harp, 34, of Berryville, Ark., hit another vehicle on Highway 86 at Farm Road 1247 around 10:52 a.m. on April 8 during a pursuit initiated by Carroll County, Ark., law enforcement, and resulted in multiple charges.
Harp was in a pursuit initiated by Carroll County, Ark., Sheriff's Office when Missouri State Highway Patrol was called into a crash report, according to affidavits of probable cause.
In the crash report, it stated Harp was driving a 1978 Chevrolet 1500 eastbound when he made an illegal turn and pulled into the path of a second vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision. The other vehicle was a 2006 Nissan Murano driven by Scott R. Stottle, 50, of Washburn.
Both Stottle and his passenger, Vickie R. Resz, 51, of Seligman, were seriously injured in the crash and had to be taken by lifeflight to Cox South Hospital in Springfield.
Stottle was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but Resz was wearing a seat belt.
The affidavits of probable cause stated Harp sideswiped a patrol car on Farm Road 1247 two different times while trying to escape, prior to hitting the Murano. When officers approached Harp after the crash, they reported Harp was reaching for a five inch hunting knife.
Officers then used a taser on Harp, according to affidavits. Once Harp was in police custody, officers located a broken glass methamphetamine pipe and a metal marijuana smoking pipe on his person. Harp had a suspended driver's license out of Arkansas and multiple warrants in Barry County.
Harp is also charged with a vehicle and trailer theft from Seven Valleys Construction in Cassville. According to a separate affidavit of probable cause, Harp and Trent Stephenson, 37, of Berryville, Ark., stole the truck and utility trailer between February 5 and 6 this year. The truck was recovered from Eagle Rock but had been altered to remove the logos for Seven Valleys.
The Barry County Sheriff's Department identified Harp with evidence in the vehicle and footage of him and Stephenson from Dollar General when they made purchases while driving the stolen truck.
Harp is currently being held in the Barry County Jail on two probation violation warrants with no bond available. No official charges had been filed pertaining to Monday's wreck as of the time of press.
Harp is charged with two counts of felony assault in the second degree, one count of felony tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree, one count of felony resisting arrest by fleeing creating a substantial risk of death or injury to another person, two counts of misdemeanor assault in the fourth degree on special victims, one count of misdemeanor driving while suspended as a first offense, one count of misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and one count of misdemeanor failure to wear a seat belt. Those charges resulted in a $40,000 cash-only bond.
For the February vehicle theft, Harp and Stephenson are each charged with one count of felony tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree and one count of felony stealing $750 or more. They were each issued a $10,000 cash-only bond on those charges.
Harp is currently being held in the Barry County Jail on a $40,000 cash-only bond. Stephenson is not currently in police custody.
Charlea Estes-Jones
A police pursuit and vehicle crash resulted in an Arkansas driver's arrest on Monday after the driver and passenger in the other vehicle had to be lifeflighted. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, James R. Harp, 34, of Berryville, Ark., hit another vehicle on Highway 86 at Farm Road 1247 around 10:52 a.m. on April 8 during a pursuit initiated by Carroll County, Ark., law enforcement, and resulted in multiple charges.
Harp was in a pursuit initiated by Carroll County, Ark., Sheriff's Office when Missouri State Highway Patrol was called into a crash report, according to affidavits of probable cause.
In the crash report, it stated Harp was driving a 1978 Chevrolet 1500 eastbound when he made an illegal turn and pulled into the path of a second vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision. The other vehicle was a 2006 Nissan Murano driven by Scott R. Stottle, 50, of Washburn.
Both Stottle and his passenger, Vickie R. Resz, 51, of Seligman, were seriously injured in the crash and had to be taken by lifeflight to Cox South Hospital in Springfield.
Stottle was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but Resz was wearing a seat belt.
The affidavits of probable cause stated Harp sideswiped a patrol car on Farm Road 1247 two different times while trying to escape, prior to hitting the Murano. When officers approached Harp after the crash, they reported Harp was reaching for a five inch hunting knife.
Officers then used a taser on Harp, according to affidavits. Once Harp was in police custody, officers located a broken glass methamphetamine pipe and a metal marijuana smoking pipe on his person. Harp had a suspended driver's license out of Arkansas and multiple warrants in Barry County.
Harp is also charged with a vehicle and trailer theft from Seven Valleys Construction in Cassville. According to a separate affidavit of probable cause, Harp and Trent Stephenson, 37, of Berryville, Ark., stole the truck and utility trailer between February 5 and 6 this year. The truck was recovered from Eagle Rock but had been altered to remove the logos for Seven Valleys.
The Barry County Sheriff's Department identified Harp with evidence in the vehicle and footage of him and Stephenson from Dollar General when they made purchases while driving the stolen truck.
Harp is currently being held in the Barry County Jail on two probation violation warrants with no bond available. No official charges had been filed pertaining to Monday's wreck as of the time of press.
Harp is charged with two counts of felony assault in the second degree, one count of felony tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree, one count of felony resisting arrest by fleeing creating a substantial risk of death or injury to another person, two counts of misdemeanor assault in the fourth degree on special victims, one count of misdemeanor driving while suspended as a first offense, one count of misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and one count of misdemeanor failure to wear a seat belt. Those charges resulted in a $40,000 cash-only bond.
For the February vehicle theft, Harp and Stephenson are each charged with one count of felony tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree and one count of felony stealing $750 or more. They were each issued a $10,000 cash-only bond on those charges.
Harp is currently being held in the Barry County Jail on a $40,000 cash-only bond. Stephenson is not currently in police custody.
