Johnson County
Sheriff's Office
Clarksville, Arkansas
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06/12/2011

Suspect Facing Lengthy List Of Charges After Pursuit
Zachary Geels

 

Zachary Geels, age 18 of Clarksville was arrested by Sheriff's Office Deputies and Coal Hill Police after leading both agencies on a pursuit covering several miles.

On Friday, June 10, Deputies Lance Clubb and Aaron Einert were on patrol in the Hunt area when they were dispatched to a possible drunk driver in the area.  The deputies made contact with a small dark vehicle on County Road 3080 and turned on the vehicle to check it out.  The driver of the vehicle accelerated quickly, turning onto Hwy 164 traveling south.

Deputies caught up to the vehicle and it pulled away from them as they attempted to stop it.  The vehicle traveled south on Highway 164 with the driver passing other vehicles recklessly and driving in the wrong lane of traffic on several occasions. 

Coal Hill Police Chief Joey Griffith set up at the intersection of Highway 164 and Rabbit Hill Road.  As the pursuit neared his location the driver turned right onto Rabbit Hill Road as other county units converged on the scene.  The driver continued west on Rabbit Hill and then turned left onto Seventh Street and headed toward Highway 64. 

County units were positioned at Seventh Street and Highway 64 but were unable to deploy stop sticks because of the speed of the pursuit.  The driver ran the stop sign and crossed Highway 64 between 50-60 miles per hour, still traveling south on Seventh Street.  The driver entered the gate of the Coal Hill Rodeo Arena with units behind him and made a circle through the parking lot.

Upon exiting the parking lot, the driver struck the rear bumper of a Johnson County Unit that was making a left turn from Seventh Street onto Carolina Street.  The driver continued north on Seventh Street, running stop signs again and crossed back over Highway 64 at approximately 60 miles per hour.

Near the intersection of Seventh Street and Rabbit Hill Road, deputies were preparing for a PIT manuver when the driver abruptly slowed down and stopped, causing a county unit to strike him from behind.  The driver surrendered at that point and was taken into custody.

Geels is charged with Speeding, Driving Left of Center (10 counts), No Turn Signal, No Seatbelt, Running Stop Signs (4 counts), Driving Wrong Side of Road (3 counts), No Proof of Insurance, No Drivers License, Reckless Driving, Failure To Yield To An Emergency Vehicle, Assault 2nd Degree, Refusal To Submit To B.A.C., Driving While Intoxicated, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony), Aggravated Assault (Felony), and Fleeing (Felony).

Geel's bond will be set on Monday, June 13.