Suspect in stolen vehicle leads Arkadelphia police in pursuit, strikes sheriff’s vehicle and another motorist -

PHOTO: Michael Arras, of Little Rock. | Clark County Detention Center mugshot

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

A suspect is in police custody Wednesday after allegedly leading Arkadelphia officers on a 5-mile chase in a stolen vehicle.

The suspect struck Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson’s vehicle and another motorist during the first few moments of the pursuit.

The chase started on West Pine Street just before noon March 11, 2026.

Arkadelphia Police Chief Jason “Shorty” Jackson tells us that a Group 6 Narcotics agent, working from a tip generated by the city’s new Flock Safety license plate cameras that alerted police of a vehicle displaying a stolen license plate, located the vehicle at Walmart’s parking lot.

The agent observed the driver walking around the vehicle, and called officers with the Arkadelphia Police Department for backup. The driver got into the stolen vehicle and drove toward Pine Street, cutting through the McDonald’s and Citgo parking lots. A traffic stop was initiated there, with APD units and the sheriff arriving as backup.

Jackson reported that the suspect — identified as Michael Arras, 33, of Little Rock — then fled, striking the sheriff’s vehicle and another motorist in front of Chicken Express, before continuing west on Arkansas Highway 26.

**Arkadelphia firefighters and Arkansas State Police stop to check on a motorist that was struck Wednesday, March 11, by another vehicle involved in a pursuit with Arkadelphia police.** | *Joel Phelps/arkadelphian.com*

The pursuit — trailed by the Group 6 agent, two APD patrolmen and the sheriff — continued for approximately 5 miles west to the intersection of state highways 51 and 26, where Arras reportedly lost control of the vehicle and entered a ditch, coming to a stop.

Arras was taken into custody without further incident, the police chief said. He was taken by ambulance to Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia for treatment to minor injuries caused in the accident.

Police confirmed that the truck had been reported stolen out of Little Rock; police there were notified of the situation and were to inform the owners of the vehicle, Jackson said.

Arras is expected to be initially charged with fleeing in a motor vehicle, a felony in Arkansas, as well as various other pending charges that will be determined by 9E Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner.

No injuries were reported by occupants of the passenger vehicle that was struck; nor was the sheriff or another agent riding as his passenger injured in the first series of crashes.