A Searcy man accused of leading police on a chase topping 100 mph on Interstate 40 before crashing near Pottsville Elementary School has now been formally charged in Pope County Circuit Court.
Brandon Wayne Turney, 30, was charged Oct. 30 with felony fleeing, leaving the scene of an accident, possession of drug paraphernalia and DWI. The charges stem from a Sept. 25 pursuit that involved multiple law enforcement agencies and ended with Turney hiding in the woods near Pottsville.
The incident began shortly after 3 p.m. when authorities received reports of a silver Ford Taurus driving aggressively on Interstate 40 near Atkins.
Motorists reported that the driver was attempting to force other vehicles off the road, according to a probable cause affidavit. The Taurus also allegedly hit the rear of another vehicle but continued westbound without stopping.
State Police Sgt. Brenda Smith spotted the vehicle and attempted to pull it over near mile marker 89.
Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly began weaving through traffic, cutting between vehicles and driving on the shoulder before accelerating to more than 100 mph.
Near Exit 88, Turney allegedly cut in front of an 18-wheeler, causing his car to fishtail and slide sideways on the exit ramp. Smith briefly lost sight of the vehicle, but Pottsville Police picked up the pursuit as it continued onto Highway 64 and River Road.
The chase ended shortly after 3:10 p.m. when the Taurus slid into a residential yard on River Road across from Pottsville Elementary School. Turney reportedly abandoned the vehicle and ran into nearby fields and woods.
With officers searching for Turney near the school campuses, Pottsville Elementary and Middle schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Officers and witnesses reported seeing a man running through yards and fields near the schools. By approximately 3:23 p.m., authorities believed they had contained Turney in a wooded area.
Russellville Police sent a K-9 team to assist, while Russellville Fire provided a drone to help search the area. Neighbors also supplied video footage to investigators.
The search continued for more than an hour before a Pope County deputy reported seeing a shirtless man in the woods at approximately 4:51 p.m.
Turney was taken into custody within minutes and booked into the Pope County Detention Center at 5:13 p.m.
Pottsville Police reported no injuries to civilians or law enforcement officers during the incident.
According to the newly filed affidavit, investigators searched the abandoned Taurus and found a black bag containing drug paraphernalia, including two pill bottles with residue, two grinders, three pipes, two cartridges and plastic baggies.
After Turney was transported to jail, Smith questioned him about the chase and whether he had used drugs.
The trooper reported that Turney initially claimed his name was “Arney Henson” before eventually acknowledging his identity.
Prosecutors filed four charges in Pope County Circuit Court on Oct. 30:
Turney’s bond was set at $5,000 cash.
