The man accused of leading officers on a 100 miles-per-hour chase before crashing at a 5K running event Saturday in Fort Smith has a bond hearing set for Wednesday (March 12) in Sebastian County Circuit Court.
Kyle Spoon, 23, had been out of jail on bond in connection with several drug charges. He was released from jail on $25,000 bond and awaiting trial in that case at the time of the chase, according to the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.
Spoon remains in jail in connection with the chase on suspicion of seven counts of aggravated assault, two counts of reckless driving, fleeing from police, driving while intoxicated, refusing a breath test, resisting arrest and two counts of second-degree battery, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Fort Smith police arrested Spoon in a high-speed chase Saturday morning after he allegedly drove through a 5K run and almost hit a child, according to police.
Runners had to dodge out of the way as the suspect drove through the event on Veterans Boulevard at Chaffee Crossing. The suspect eventually crashed and was detained by off-duty officers at the scene, according to Sgt. Wayne Barnett, of the Fort Smith Police Department.
An officer witnessed a pickup truck traveling 93 miles per hour on Phoenix Avenue at 7:46 a.m., but lost sight of the vehicle. Officers saw the truck about 20 minutes later on Geren Road, but the driver again sped off, continuing the high-speed chase, police said. Officers pursued the vehicle down South 58th Street and on Zero Street before Barling police took over. Sgt. Wayne Barnett, with the Fort Smith Police Department, said since the chase had gone past city limits they made the call to stop pursing the chase.
"None of us knew at the time they were having a 5K run out there this morning, so we had off duty officers that were out there helping direct traffic and said," said Barnett.
The high-speed chase at one point reached at least 100 miles per hour, according to Fort Smith police.
The suspect then pulled onto Veterans Boulevard at Fort Chaffee, where a 5K run event was being held. Several off-duty officers were at the event and detained the suspect after he lost control of his vehicle and crashed nearby, police said.
He did not stop immediately after the crash however; "the truck became stuck, he got out of the vehicle, attempted to run on foot and two off duty officers that were saw him and took him into custody," said Barnett.
At least six people at the event, including a six year old, said they were almost struck by the speeding vehicle, according to police. Two officers suffered minor injuries while detaining Spoon, resulting in the pending battery charges.
Shannon Frederick, a participant of the race, said seeing the young boy almost get ran over by Spoon was the most frightening experience of her life.
"The little boy was fine, and he seemed just fine, so I think we were more shaken up than he was," said Frederick.
The Junior League of Fort Smith hosted a 5K and 10K run event Saturday morning at Chaffee Crossing, according to the organization's website.
