On 11/19/15, at approximately 12:35 PM, officers with the Benton Police Department responded to the area of Hiland Pl. and North St. on report of a suspicious vehicle. Officers located it and conducted a check of the vehicle and determined that it had been reported stolen. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but it refused to stop. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Alexander Garcia (26 YOA), continued to travel towards Bryant on I-30 while still refusing to stop for officers behind him. Garcia exited off of the interstate at the Saline and Pulaski County line and proceeded onto Hwy 5 N. back towards Bryant.
Officers with the Bryant Police Department were able to successfully deploy stopsticks on the suspect’s vehicle causing its tires to deflate. Once the vehicle stopped Garcia fled from the scene, but he was quickly taken into custody without further incident. Subsequent investigation revealed the vehicle and license plate had been reported stolen. A white crystal-like substance, believed to be Methamphetamine, was also located along with Xanax pills.
Garcia was transported to the Saline County Detention Facility for processing. He was charged with Fleeing (felony), 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and 2 counts of Theft by Receiving. This is an on-going investigation and additional charges could be forthcoming.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.
Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Follow BNPD on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benton-Police-Department/221829174560849
