LITTLE ROCK, AR — (BrooklandNews.com) — Jan. 23, 2026 — An Arkansas State Trooper was fired after performing a pit maneuver on the wrong vehicle, but the suspect was later arrested.

An Arkansas State Police (ASP) Trooper has been fired after mistakenly performing a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) on Interstate 630 on Sunday on an innocent driver he thought was a fleeing suspect.

The Trooper, hired in October 2024 and still on probation, was immediately placed on administrative duties and terminated on Wednesday morning. No injuries occurred in the incident.

“We are thankful no one was injured in this incident, and we appreciate this motorist accepting the situation with grace,” said Colonel Mike Hagar, Director of the Arkansas State Police. “Even though we know humans sometimes make mistakes, a mistake of this nature has serious consequences.”

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, around 11:45 a.m., an ASP Trooper noticed a white Buick Envista speeding at 92 mph in a 60-mph zone on I-630 eastbound in Little Rock. The Trooper stopped the vehicle near the 6-mile marker and approached the driver, Johnny Williams, 38, of Little Rock. The Trooper detected a strong odor of marijuana and confirmed that Williams’s license was suspended.

When the Trooper asked Williams to step out of the vehicle, Williams refused and fled, continuing eastbound on I-630. The Trooper returned to his patrol unit, briefly lost sight of the vehicle, and notified dispatch that he was in pursuit. As he reentered traffic, he spotted a white SUV ahead that was not speeding. The Trooper exited I-630 at exit 5 and mistook this SUV for the fleeing suspect vehicle. To prevent the pursuit from entering city streets, the Trooper executed a TVI (Traffic Violation Intercept).

After the SUV stopped, the Trooper exited his patrol unit and ordered the driver out at gunpoint. However, upon realizing he had stopped the wrong vehicle and that the suspect had escaped, the Trooper quickly apologized to the driver.

Williams turned himself in to the ASP Troop A headquarters on January 20th. He was arrested on felony charges of Fleeing and misdemeanor charges of failing to obey a police officer, driving on a suspended license and speeding over the posted limit.

Since 2016, ASP Troopers have been involved in 4,719 pursuits and conducted 1,428 TVIs. Of these 1,428 TVIs, only two involved mistaken identity of the suspect vehicle.

“The Arkansas State Police is committed to protecting the public while holding itself to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability,” Col. Hagar stated. “In this incident, the Trooper quickly recognized the mistake, ensured the uninvolved driver was safe, and took responsibility on scene. We remain focused on continuous improvement to maintain the trust and confidence of the communities we serve.”