FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) has released its report following the high-speed chase between an Arkansas State Police (ASP) trooper and a 20-year-old man that ended in a deadly crash.
According to the FPD, at around 3 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2024, officers were called out to the scene of the crash near Rupple Road where they were told ASP had pursued a car "driven by Noah Cargill [that] crashed head-on into another car, killing the driver ... that was not involved."
Multiple witnesses are stated in the report as describing Cargill's Dodge Charger running a red light and fishtailing into oncoming traffic, striking another car driven by 56-year-old David Pemberton head-on.
ASP dashcam footage reportedly showed the trooper trying to pull over Cargill after he was driving recklessly. The trooper turned the patrol vehicle's lights on and attempted to initiate a traffic stop before Cargill continued to flee.
The report says the trooper reached speeds of almost 65 miles per hour near residential roads without being able to catch Cargill.
Cargill then reportedly drove through a red light and an apartment complex parking lot while being chased. FPD said after exiting the apartment complex speeds were over 100 mph when Cargill "almost hit multiple vehicles" before finally striking Pemberton's car near the Rupple Road and Wales Drive intersection, killing him.
"Cargill's driving showed an extreme indifference to the value of human life. It was a Saturday afternoon ... It should be noted the pursuit traveled through a residential neighborhood and one of the largest apartment complexes in Fayetteville," FPD said.
"Cargill's manner of driving through extremely populated areas during mid-day displayed an extreme indifference for the safety of citizens, pedestrians, and other motorists," the FPD detective's report said.
While searching the Charger, a loaded .38 caliber Revolver was found.
Cargill is being charged with illegally owning a gun while on probation for a convicted felony, along with fleeing, other traffic charges, and first-degree murder.
When FPD spoke with Cargill at the hospital, Cargill reportedly said he thought he was being chased "by somebody who was 'out to get him,'" and that he did not know it was a police officer.
Cargill has pleaded not guilty, and his next court date is set for April 15, 2024.
Pemberton's brother Jim believes the pursuit itself caused David's death.
“They got the guy, but now my brother’s dead," Jim Pemberton said.
"The officer has a duty to drive their vehicle in accordance with Arkansas law with regard to the safety of all persons ... meaning that [safety] should be the most important thing, not apprehending the suspect [of a] traffic violation," said Jim Pemberton.
“He was my idol growing up, he was my big brother," Pemberton said. "He was my best friend.”
A study looked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records and found that in 2020, there were 455 people who died in crashes involving police pursuits in America.
That same data shows that between the years of 2015 through 2019, there were anywhere from 311-368 deaths per year related to police pursuits nationwide.
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