Aggravated Assault flees Memphis and Arkansas State Police - Escapes into Memphis before crashing

On August 19th, 2026, at approximately 10:12 A.M., Sergeant Spencer Morris #291 gave out radio traffic that the Memphis Police Department was in pursuit of a Gray Kia K5 with Tennessee license plate number "BVN8656". The suspect driving the vehicle had committed an aggravated assault in Memphis and began to flee across the Interstate 55 bridge into Arkansas. I positioned myself on Martin Luther King Jr Drive to intercept as it continued north. The suspect vehicle then took the 4 exit off Interstate 55 onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive at a high rate of speed and disregarded a stop sign. I then activated my emergency equipment for a traffic stop, and the suspect vehicle continued driving at speeds up to 80 miles per hour on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The suspect then turned right onto the entrance ramp of Interstate 40 east and rapidly accelerated. As the suspect vehicle continued east on Interstate 40, I attempted to position my car for a Tactical Vehicle Intervention. The suspect, however, avoided this by quickly applying his brakes and accelerating heavily to prevent the intentional act. I continued attempting to close the gap on the suspect vehicle as speeds were approximately 130 miles per hour as he approached heavy traffic. The suspect vehicle then drove on the shoulder of Interstate 40 at speeds of 130 miles per hour, narrowly missing heavy traffic traveling on the roadway. As the pursuit approached the Interstate 40 bridge, Sergeant Justin Williams #569 advised to disregard the pursuit, allowing the Memphis Police Department to take back primary. Shortly after disregarding the pursuit, the suspect vehicle crashed in Memphis. The driver was identified as Michael Thacker from Tennessee. Mr. Thacker was taken to the hospital due to critical injuries sustained from the crash. At I-40 and Hollywood, MPD said, the suspect's car crashed into two other cars; the driver of the suspect car was detained and taken to the hospital, and was expected to recover. Police said no one else was injured in the crash. Charges will be prepared and sent to the Crittenden County Prosecutor's Office for the following offenses. 27-37-702: NO SEATBELT 27-22-104: NO LIABILITY INSURANCE 27-50-308(b)(1)(B) 1ST: RECKLESS DRIVING - 1ST 5-54-125(d)(3) 2023: FLEEING - FELONY - VEHICLE OR CONVEYANCE - SUBSTANTIAL DANGER OF DEATH Memphis PD is also adding: Two counts of aggravated assault, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of evading arrest with a vehicle, and reckless driving.