ALMA, AR — On Sept. 23, Arkansas State Police (ASP) spokesperson Cindy Murphy reported that two high-speed pursuits over the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line resulted in one arrest and two smashed automobiles.
Around 2:25 p.m., the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office informed ASP of two vehicles leaving eastbound on I-40 toward Arkansas: a Chevrolet Tahoe and a Jeep Gladiator.
ASP stated that their department took over the pursuit of the Tahoe around 2:30 p.m., while Oklahoma authorities continued to pursue the Jeep.
According to ASP, the Chevy departed the road near the crossroads of Highway 64 and Firefly Lane in Alma, collided with a fence, and became disabled.
The driver, Derrick Scudder, 35, reportedly fled on foot but was arrested about 2:43 p.m. According to ASP, troopers discovered two suitcases in Scudder’s car, containing approximately 240 pounds of meth and 2.2 pounds of fentanyl.
In the other pursuit, Oklahoma authorities followed the Jeep onto I-540 southbound. According to ASP, the chase halted when the Jeep rear-ended a civilian vehicle.
According to Murphy, the ASP’s sole responsibility in the second pursuit is to investigate the crash. The probe is still ongoing.