A few moments of this footage have been widely circulated, largely without context. Today, for the first time, BCS presents all of the footage associated with the April 10, 2020 pursuit of Justin Battenfield, along with significant new background information regarding the incident. This video is intended for educational and news reporting purposes. It is not intended to shock. From the report of Trooper Shawn Ellis, lightly edited for clarity: On April 10, 2020, at approximately 6:40 AM, Troop H dispatch advised that Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office was requesting assistance with a pursuit. Deputies were pursuing a black pickup, driven by Justin Battenfield, which had recklessly driven through several traffic lights without stopping and was passing traffic on the shoulder of U.S. 71. The pursuit of Battenfield has been initiated in the area of Ingersoll Circle and U.S. 71 at approximately 6:36 AM by a Forest Service Ranger. At approximately 6:53 AM, I checked In-Service with Troop H Dispatch and traveled towards U.S. 71 from State Highway 45. At approximately 6:54 AM, at the intersection of State Highway 45 and U.S. 71, I joined the pursuit as it traveled north on U.S. 71, soon becoming the lead vehicle in the pursuit. While pursuing Battenfield, he traveled through several traffic lights and passed multiple vehicles while driving on the shoulder before turning east onto Zero Street. This particular section of Zero Street (SH255) is a four-lane roadway, divided by a continuous center turn lane and was at the peak of a hill crest. In the area of 66th Street, the pickup began crossing into the westbound traffic lanes meeting traffic at a high rate of speed. After I relayed the suspect’s actions to Troop H Dispatch, Sgt. Brandon Margis advised that due to Battenfield’s extremely reckless driving, and lack of due regard for the safety of the public that I needed to get the pickup stopped immediately. I then attempted a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. While executing the PIT, my unit collided with the passenger side of the suspect vehicle. As a result, both vehicles traveled off the roadway and into the east side ditch. Battenfield’s vehicle collided with a driveway culvert while overturning and my unit went airborne as it traveled over Battenfield’s vehicle. Battenfield sustained fatal injuries and I sustained multiple serious injuries."

BodyCam Police RealStories CopWatch LawAndOrder PoliceOfficer FirstResponders StreetPatrol PoliceVideo BodyCamera BodyCamFootage PoliceBodycam LawEnforcement PoliceStories OfficerSafety CommunityPolicing PoliceWork RealFootage IncidentAnalysis PublicSafety PoliceTraining BodyCamAnalysis PoliceEncounters EmergencyResponse PoliceTransparency