HIGH SPEED CHASE ENDS IN ARREST

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

The reported theft of cigarettes from a store at White Hall Monday afternoon resulted in a high speed chase on Dollarway Road as school was letting out and the eventual arrest of a Pine Bluff man.

At a court hearing Wednesday, Circuit Judge Berlin Jones set a $5,000 bond for Christopher Goodrum, after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Goodrum with aggravated assault and fleeing.

Reading from an affidavit from White Hall Police Sgt. Greg Moody, Deputy Prosecutor Nicole Pugh said a White Hall officer was sent to Cranford’s Fresh World at about 2:40 p.m. Monday to investigate a reported robbery.

Pugh said the officer was told that a man, later identified as Goodrum, was seen behind a counter putting cartons of cigarettes in a plastic bag then leaving the store and getting into a black Kia that left the parking lot.

Moody reported that an employee and witness in the parking lot were able to get the license plate number of the car.

Pugh said White Hall officer Phillip Peckham saw a black Kia traveling west on Bryant Street and after verifying that the license plate number was the same, turned on his emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the car, which sped away toward Dollarway Road from Bryant Street.

She said Peckham chased the car at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour down Dollarway Road, past Dollarway High School where students were being dismissed and where a large number of students were present.

Moody reported that Peckham continued to chase the car, which ignored stop signs and red lights as it turned off Dollarway Road onto Rhinehart Street, and went airborne as it crossed the railroad tracks.

Pugh said Jefferson County officers had also responded and tried to stop the car at a roadblock, but the car drove directly at the deputies, forcing them to take cover as the vehicle sped past them.

The chase finally ended when the car reached the area of Vaugine and Peach streets where it ran into a wooded area, and got stuck in a ditch.

Goodrum, who was driving, jumped out and tried to run but was caught after a short chase, Pugh said.

She said Goodrum waived his right to an attorney and told White Hall Police he had gone into Cranford’s and after seeing no one working behind the counter where the cigarettes were, went behind the counter and put cartons of cigarettes in a plastic bag he got from the store.

He also admitted seeing the police behind him but continued driving because he was frightened and was trying to get away, Pugh said.