ShaneCaviness_202302040024_301354_409216525

On 2/4/2023 I, Trooper Shane Caviness was sitting stationary on Interstate 530 northbound near the 41-mile marker. At approximately 12:24 AM, I observed a dark-colored passenger car traveling northbound that appeared to be exceeding the posted speed limit of 65 MPH. I activated my rear stationary radar and received a reading of 83 MPH. I merged onto Interstate 530 and caught up to the vehicle, initiating my emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. The operator of the suspect vehicle began to slow and exited the interstate at exit number 39. I conducted a status check of the plate that was displayed, Arkansas 884VIE. The license plate returned to a 1994 Dodge Dakota, but the vehicle I was attempting to stop was a Nissan Maxima. The operator, later identified as Nikki Hines, then pulled to the right shoulder of the off-ramp and came to a stop.
As I opened my door to approach the vehicle, Ms. Hines began to accelerate away from the traffic stop, turning right onto South Camden Road fleeing north. I re-entered my vehicle, initiated my siren and began to pursue the vehicle. As I attempted to catch up to Ms. Hines she continued to accelerate, exceeding speeds of 100 MPH in the 45 MPH zone of South Camden Road. As Ms. Hines attempted to negotiate a left curve in the roadway, near the West 28th Avenue intersection, her vehicle lost traction when she traveled over an ice patch. The suspect vehicle veered right, jumping over the curve as it exited the roadway, before striking a road sign. The vehicle then traveled across a parking lot as Ms. Hines steered to the left, causing the vehicle to travel back onto South Camden Road. While pursuing behind the suspect vehicle, I traveled over the same ice patch, causing my vehicle to slide. I was able to prevent my patrol vehicle from exiting the roadway but struck the curve with my front right tire before being able to correct the vehicle back into the northbound travel lane. I then continued to slide north, driving over a road sign that was knocked down by Ms. Hines’ collision, damaging the left rear tire of my vehicle and scraping the undercarriage.
I was then able to regain the ability to successfully steer and change the trajectory of my vehicle, steering towards the suspect vehicle as it continued to roll north. As the suspect vehicle rolled across the southbound travel lanes, Ms. Hines began to correct her steering back towards the northbound travel lanes. In order to prevent further flight and to end the pursuit I continued to steer towards the suspect vehicle while attempting to slow down. Taking this opportunity to end the pursuit, I conducted an intentional intervention, striking the right rear corner of the suspect vehicles bumper with the front bumper of my patrol vehicle. The result of the impact ceased the movement of the suspect vehicle as it rotated approximately ninety degrees to the west stopping between both southbound lanes of travel.
I exited my vehicle and began instructing Ms. Hines to show me her hands. As I was shouting instructions to Ms. Hines over the sound of my siren, I saw that she was crawling through the vehicle towards the front passenger door. I moved to the passenger side of the vehicle where I was able to Intercept Ms. Hines as she opened the passenger door. As the door opened, I saw Ms. Hines with nothing in her hands and a small child sitting in the front passenger seat with no car seat. I holstered my weapon and instructed Ms. Hines to crawl out of the car as I reached in to assist her. Ms. Hines then began to retreat toward the driver’s seat. I grabbed the back of her pants and her head to pull her towards the passenger door to prevent her from exiting the driver’s side to flee. As I pulled Ms. Hines over the passenger seat, she grabbed her child and began holding him against her body. Fearing that pulling her out of the vehicle would hurt the child, I let go of her as she retreated into the driver’s seat. To gain compliance, I unholstered my Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) aiming it at Ms. Hines’, instructing her to release her child and exit the vehicle or she would be tased. She partially complied with this command, by crawling out of the vehicle while still holding her child.