Trooper Theodore Henderson of the Arkansas State Police rammed his vehicle into a chase suspect’s car, then shattered its back window, grabbed a backseat occupant and punched him in the face, according to police videos and reports.
The chase involved one car speeding to at least 130 mph, according to the police video and incident report.
The incident began at about 11:21 p.m. on Arkansas 18, when Henderson claims that he clocked a 2023 Infiniti QX50 driving at 82 mph in a 60 mph zone near the Big Lake bridge.
Henderson said he pursued the QX50 and turned on his lights, but the driver sped to 113 mph and then to 130 mph, according to the trooper’s report published by NEA Report on Saturday.
Henderson said he accelerated beyond 140 mph to keep up. Spike strips were put out near County Road 239 by Blytheville police. While hitting the strips, the SUV kept driving, ran a red light at Arkansas 18 and Arkansas 151, and began losing air pressure in one front tire.
At first, Henderson’s attempt to intervene proved ineffective. Second, the intervention sent the SUV over a curb at North 16th and West Walnut streets, stopping it there.
Police identified the driver as Adonerus Johnson, 25. Henderson stated that Johnson moved from the driver’s seat to the back and attempted to exit through a rear door.
Gosnell Police Cpl. Cade Liles pointed his weapon at Johnson and commanded him to lie down. Johnson was shocked by Liles several times with a Taser until Johnson was handcuffed. Johnson later provided two breath samples that came out to 0.17 and faced charges of felony fleeing, first-offense DWI, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and speeding over 15 mph above the speed limit.
Henderson then turned his attention to Tedrick Washington Jr., 23, a Blytheville resident and former Division I basketball player, who was seated in the back of the SUV.
The video shows Henderson ordering Washington to exit before shattering the rear driver’s-side window with a baton. Henderson reported that Washington claimed he could not get out and failed to comply with numerous orders to crawl out.
The trooper grabbed Washington’s left wrist and pulled some of his hair. According to Henderson, Washington yanked his arm away and braced against the partially opened door.
Henderson reported that Washington “postured up” as if to attack, and Henderson hit him with a closed fist in the left side of Washington’s face.
Henderson yanked Washington from the vehicle and brought him to the ground, then struck him a second time in the left cheek as Washington was being handcuffed, according to the report.
According to Liles, Washington attempted to fend off the officers and reached toward his waist several times. Washington bled afterward. Pafford EMS evaluated all three individuals.
The released records show no record of any hospitalization. The front-seat passenger complied with all orders and was released without charges.
Washington was charged with resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental operations. Washington claimed he was complying with the officers and intends to sue, theGrio reported Saturday.
Washington briefly raised his hands in the back seat before the window was broken in the footage.
A Gosnell Police Department document shows that the display of his firearm, use of a Taser, and hands-on force by Liles were justified according to their departmental policy. This investigation focused only on Liles, but not Henderson. No state police administrative ruling addresses Henderson’s use of force or Washington’s statement in the released records.
This is the second high-profile case of use of force involving an Arkansas trooper in the last month. On Aug. 1, Trooper Moisses Arellano was videotaped punching Alisa Hackett, 18, in the face following a traffic stop. Hackett filed a lawsuit and Black legislators called for explanations.
The director of the Arkansas State Police, Col. Mike Hagar, refused to testify before the Legislative Black Caucus at a scheduled appearance, saying pending litigation made a public discussion impossible, while offering to meet legislators privately.
Reaction online to the video of Washington was divided, with some viewers labeling the punches excessive against a passenger whose hands were in plain sight and others pointing out the very high speeds involved and the officers’ description of noncompliance following a violent stop.
Anyone charged is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
