By Ray King
The Arkansas Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected an argument by a man convicted of felony fleeing who claimed there was insufficient evidence to convict him.
Following a jury trial in February 2024, Tracy Davis was convicted of fleeing and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Thew trial came nearly four years after Davis was accused of fleeing from Pine Bluff Police Lt. Jason Howard who saw a white four-door Hyundai driven by Davis run a stop sign and almost hit another vehicle, forcing it off the road on Nov. 12, 2020.
Court documents showed that Davis ran several stop lights and at least six stop signs with the Hyundai reaching speeds between 60 and 70 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour posted speed limit.
The pursuit finally ended when Davis lost control of the Hyundai and it slid into a ditch and struck a culvert.
In addition to Howard, the jury heard testimony from Sheriff’s Sgt. Courtney Kelly and Arkansas State Trooper Markeith Neal. Kelly said the Hyundai approached his vehicle at high speed and he was forced to drive off the side of the road to avoid a collision.
Neal testified that he was also involved in the pursuit and that other civilian vehicles were placed in danger in an least one intersection.
Davis testified in his own defense and admitted driving the car but denied almost hitting Kelly’s vehicle and while admitting he tried to evade police, he denied he had placed anyone’s life in danger.
