A Louisiana man wanted on a nationwide warrant was taken into custody Saturday afternoon after a multi-jurisdictional police pursuit that began in Grady and ended in Desha County, authorities said.
According to a press release, the incident began on Saturday, November 15, at approximately 1:54 p.m., when Lincoln County Dispatch notified Desha County Central Dispatch that a Grady police officer had conducted a traffic stop on 37-year-old Broderick Lewis of Greenwood, Louisiana. During the stop, the officer learned Lewis had a nationwide arrest warrant out of Louisiana for Assault on a Parole Officer.
Rather than submit to arrest, Lewis fled in his vehicle, prompting the Grady officer to pursue him southbound into Desha County. As the chase entered Dumas, a Dumas police officer joined the pursuit. Lewis continued at dangerous speeds through the city, leading Desha County deputies to become involved as the pursuit moved into the Winchester area.
In McGehee, police units also joined the chase. Authorities said Lewis drove into oncoming traffic and attempted to ram a McGehee police vehicle before continuing southbound and turning east onto Highway 35.
With no passengers in the fleeing vehicle and after Lewis repeatedly demonstrated “blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of the motoring public and Desha County residents,” a Desha County deputy conducted a certified tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) maneuver on Highway 35 near Halley, bringing the pursuit to an end.
Lewis was taken into custody without further incident. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the TVI and was transported to a local hospital.
Officials said Lewis has multiple violent felony convictions in Louisiana and is listed in the National Crime Information Center as a dangerous person. He also has an active warrant from Texas for Assault with Bodily Injury. Once released from the hospital, Lewis will face charges in Desha County, including Felony Fleeing and Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer. Louisiana authorities have confirmed they will extradite him after he faces his Arkansas charges.
Desha County Sheriff Mitch Grant commended the responding officers and emphasized the importance of specialized training.
“We have sent deputies to the Arkansas State Police Training Academy, where the ASP provides free training to local law enforcement agencies,” Grant said. “Their tactical vehicle intervention course is an intense, weeklong program, and upon completion, the deputy is certified in TVI. We want our deputies well trained so they can properly react to any situation to protect the peace and safety of our Desha County residents. I applaud the bravery of the deputy who put himself in harm’s way to end the pursuit before any innocent person got hurt.”
