Welcome to Arrest Stories. A twenty-eight-year-old man allegedly led Arkansas and Missouri troopers on a one hundred fifty-six mile per hour interstate chase before making a statement after his arrest that left investigators stunned. Heres what may have happened.
On June fifteenth, at approximately eight twenty-two in the morning, Arkansas State Police Trooper Arellano was conducting traffic enforcement in the northbound lanes of Interstate fifty-five, just north of the fifty-four mile marker in Mississippi County, Arkansas. The trooper observed a red Chevrolet Corvette traveling northbound with a cover over its license plate. A check through the Arkansas Crime Information Center revealed the vehicle's registration had expired in March of two thousand twenty-six.
At the fifty-five mile marker, Trooper Arellano activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop. The Corvette did not slow down. After the trooper activated his siren, smoke came from the Corvette's exhaust as the vehicle accelerated rapidly northbound. The trooper reported maintaining a radar reading showing the Corvette traveling over one hundred fifty miles per hour, reaching a peak speed of one hundred fifty-six miles per hour.
The pursuit crossed the Arkansas-Missouri state line, where Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers were staged near the four mile marker with tire deflation devices. Troopers successfully deployed the devices, deflating the Corvette's left-side tires. Despite the tire damage, the vehicle continued northbound, eventually exiting near the eight mile marker onto Missouri State Highway one sixty-four.
As Trooper Arellano moved alongside the Corvette in preparation for a tactical vehicle intervention, the Corvette suddenly braked. The front left portion of the patrol vehicle struck the rear right portion of the Corvette, disabling both vehicles.
The driver, identified as twenty-eight-year-old Jayden Atreeyian Smith, exited the Corvette carrying a black backpack and ran northbound through a field. The trooper pursued Smith on foot. Smith stopped, raised his hands, and got on the ground.
A search of the backpack revealed two Ram TRX key fobs, one Dodge SRT key fob, and Smith's driver's license. A search of the Corvette uncovered a small plastic container with approximately zero point one two grams of suspected marijuana. While being placed into a patrol vehicle, Smith reportedly said he was not worried about the Corvette because he would simply buy another one, according to Arkansas State Police.
Smith was transported to the Pemiscot County Jail in Caruthersville, Missouri, pending extradition. He faces charges including felony fleeing in a vehicle creating a substantial danger of death, fleeing on foot, possession of a controlled substance, reckless driving, no seat belt, no liability insurance, improper lane change, expired tags, and improper display of license tags. Arkansas State Police also intends to seek restitution for damage to its patrol vehicle.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.