Searcy County Man Facing Charges in High Speed Chase

An incident last week on Highway 65 in Searcy County results in charges being filed.

The full story from KTLO is below:

An area man is accused of running motorists off the road, leading authorities on a high-speed chase, threatening to kill a deputy and spitting on officers while being booked into the Searcy County Detention Center. Twenty-one-year-old Trystan Shelby Barker of Leslie has been in custody since Wednesday on a bond of $100,000.

According to Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell, his office was notified of a reckless driver running motorists off U.S. Highway 65 near Boston Mountain Pizza in Marshall. A deputy arrived to assist a Marshall police officer, who had located the vehicle outside of Marshall on New Hill. As the deputy approached the scene, the suspect reportedly drove an erratic manner coming directly at the patrol vehicle as if he was going to intentionally hit the unit, but he veered at the last second and missed the patrol unit.

Both officers began pursuing the suspect on Highway 65 at speeds of 70 to 80 miles per hour. The suspect allegedly began passing motorists in the center turn lane, driving into oncoming traffic in the opposite lane and nearly hitting several drivers.

Another deputy arrived and became the primary officer since he was ahead of the suspect. The suspect then passed his vehicle and allegedly yelled, “I’m going to kill you. Are you ready to die? Because I’m ready to die.”

The pursuit continued onto Arkansas Highway 27. The suspect then reportedly proceeded to travel down other roads until he ended up on an unnamed road off of Reflections Drive, lost control of his vehicle and was taken into custody.

While the suspect, identified as Barker, was in custody, authorities reportedly found a Ziploc bag in the front pocket of his jeans. The bag allegedly contained a green leafy substance consistent with marijuana.

Barker was transported to the Searcy County Detention Center. While being processed, he reportedly began screaming at detention officers and spit in their face and on their clothing.

Barker is facing felony counts of aggravated assault on a correctional facility employee, first-degree terroristic threatening involving property damage and fleeing, three misdemeanor counts of assault and first-degree reckless conduct and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, driving left of center, careless driving, reckless driving and speeding.