Pine Bluff police arrested two men Thursday after a lengthy vehicle chase through the central part of the city.
The driver, Vernon Lee McCraney, 23, of Pine Bluff, faces charges of violating the Uniform Machine Gun Act, criminal use of a prohibited weapon, engaging in criminal gang activity and aggravated assault.
His passenger, 19-year-old Jacques Shorter, also of Pine Bluff, faces similar charges, according to a news release.
The chase began at approximately 4 p.m. in the area of East Sixth Avenue and Missouri Street after a white Hyundai Elantra passed a police officer at a high rate of speed.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The officer activated their lights and siren as the Hyundai turned east onto East Eighth Avenue and traveled at speeds greater than 20 mph above the posted speed limit, running the stop sign at Eighth and Wisconsin Street.
From Wisconsin, the suspect made a right turn west onto East Ninth Avenue before running the stop sign at the intersection of East Ninth and South Washington Street.
During this time, other units also engaged in the pursuit.
The Hyundai then traveled south on Washington, running the stop sign at East 10th Avenue.
From there, the driver continued traveling at a high rate of speed, running the stop sign at East 10th and Utah Street, where it made a right turn north onto Utah.
A short time later, the driver attempted to collide with a Pine Bluff police detective’s unit at the intersection of Nebraska Street and East 11th Avenue before turning west onto East 11th.
The detective was uninjured, according to the release.
After running several more stop signs, the Hyundai turned onto West 16th Avenue, where the vehicle’s right rear tire separated from the rim.
The vehicle then ran the stop sign at 16th and Oak Street before coming to a rest in front of 1604 S. Oak. St.
The driver, later identified as McCraney, attempted to flee, but was blocked by a Police Department unit, forcing him to surrender to arrest.
The passenger, later identified as Shorter, ran on foot for about 10 yards before falling and surrendering to arrest.
Onlookers in the Belmoor subdivision area reported two firearms that were thrown from the vehicle during the chase.
They were later recovered by other officers.
“We are thankful that this pursuit ended without anyone being injured,” said Police Department Public Information Specialist John Worthen in a statement.
“This type of reckless behavior puts everyone in danger and will not be tolerated in the city of Pine Bluff. We want to thank our officers involved in this pursuit,” he said.
“They caught these suspects and prevented any injuries to innocent residents.”