ROGERS, AR - Authorities with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) have released dash-cam footage showing a traffic stop that quickly turned into an officer-involved shooting after the driver, a 26-year-old man from Guatemala who was in the country illegally, of a car going over 100 miles per hour on Interstate 49 physically attacked and assaulted the female trooper that pulled him over.
According to KARK, dash-cam footage shows the pursuit that ASP said started after a car flew by Trooper Alexandria Duncan going 114 miles per hour on the night of July 7th on southbound I-49 near Rogers. A minute and a half into the video, the car comes to a stop and Trooper Duncan orders the driver, 26-year-old Angel Zapet-Alverado out of the car.
Investigators said that Trooper Duncan reached inside the vehicle to take the keys when a physical struggle ensued. She proceeded to use her taser until Zapet-Alverado wrestled it out of her hands and threw it into traffic. Investigators said that during the struggle Duncan was also kicked in the head several times by the illegal immigrant.
Colonel Mike Hagar with ASP said, "We counted over 70 cars drove past and did not stop to render any type of aid, and they're absolutely not expected to. However, then out of nowhere, you have Kylie who shows up." Kylie Sutton, who was driving by, stopped and got the taser out of the road. She did not hesitate and jumped on the suspect's back in an attempt to help Trooper Duncan.
Hagar said, "We couldn't be more thankful that Kylie showed up when she did." Trooper Duncan discharged her duty weapon, grazing the suspect in the head with a bullet after determining that the use of deadly force was necessary to stop the threat. Investigators said that Zapet-Alverado's toxicology results indicated that his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
Hagar said, "Alex was absolutely justified in what she did. She did what she was trained to do. Two brave women, one who was doing that job she swore an oath to do and that other one just being a good human." On Wednesday, September 18th the Benton County prosecutor announced that Duncan's use of force was consistent with Arkansas law.
Zapet-Alverado's defense attorney said that because he was unarmed, the situation did not justify the use of deadly force. He is currently being held in the Benton County Detention Center and has been placed on hold while awaiting Homeland Security. He has been charged with second-degree battery.
According to reports, after the incident, Governor Sarah Huckabee released a statement honoring the two women and their bravery, slamming the Biden-Harris administration for the lax border policies. She said, "These two women who put their lives on the line to make sure their communities are safe, are heroes and thanks to their quick, brave action, a criminal illegal immigrant is in custody and off the streets. Even though they deny it and the media covers it up, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have created the worst border crisis in history and they must be held responsible."
Hagar made it clear that this type of unlawful behavior will not be tolerated in Arkansas. He said, "I pray every day for the safety of our Troopers as they sacrifice their own safety for the sake of our innocent civilians. I thank God today that he kept our Trooper alive and that he placed an unbelievably brave civilian by her side during her time of need."
He added, "I have the same fear and frustration any time someone assaults one of our Troopers, but it's even more disturbing that this suspect is an undocumented, illegal immigrant from Guatemala. That shows another level of lawlessness that will not be tolerated in our state."
According to KARK, dash-cam footage shows the pursuit that ASP said started after a car flew by Trooper Alexandria Duncan going 114 miles per hour on the night of July 7th on southbound I-49 near Rogers. A minute and a half into the video, the car comes to a stop and Trooper Duncan orders the driver, 26-year-old Angel Zapet-Alverado out of the car.
Investigators said that Trooper Duncan reached inside the vehicle to take the keys when a physical struggle ensued. She proceeded to use her taser until Zapet-Alverado wrestled it out of her hands and threw it into traffic. Investigators said that during the struggle Duncan was also kicked in the head several times by the illegal immigrant.
Colonel Mike Hagar with ASP said, "We counted over 70 cars drove past and did not stop to render any type of aid, and they're absolutely not expected to. However, then out of nowhere, you have Kylie who shows up." Kylie Sutton, who was driving by, stopped and got the taser out of the road. She did not hesitate and jumped on the suspect's back in an attempt to help Trooper Duncan.
Hagar said, "We couldn't be more thankful that Kylie showed up when she did." Trooper Duncan discharged her duty weapon, grazing the suspect in the head with a bullet after determining that the use of deadly force was necessary to stop the threat. Investigators said that Zapet-Alverado's toxicology results indicated that his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
Hagar said, "Alex was absolutely justified in what she did. She did what she was trained to do. Two brave women, one who was doing that job she swore an oath to do and that other one just being a good human." On Wednesday, September 18th the Benton County prosecutor announced that Duncan's use of force was consistent with Arkansas law.
Zapet-Alverado's defense attorney said that because he was unarmed, the situation did not justify the use of deadly force. He is currently being held in the Benton County Detention Center and has been placed on hold while awaiting Homeland Security. He has been charged with second-degree battery.
According to reports, after the incident, Governor Sarah Huckabee released a statement honoring the two women and their bravery, slamming the Biden-Harris administration for the lax border policies. She said, "These two women who put their lives on the line to make sure their communities are safe, are heroes and thanks to their quick, brave action, a criminal illegal immigrant is in custody and off the streets. Even though they deny it and the media covers it up, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have created the worst border crisis in history and they must be held responsible."
Hagar made it clear that this type of unlawful behavior will not be tolerated in Arkansas. He said, "I pray every day for the safety of our Troopers as they sacrifice their own safety for the sake of our innocent civilians. I thank God today that he kept our Trooper alive and that he placed an unbelievably brave civilian by her side during her time of need."
He added, "I have the same fear and frustration any time someone assaults one of our Troopers, but it's even more disturbing that this suspect is an undocumented, illegal immigrant from Guatemala. That shows another level of lawlessness that will not be tolerated in our state."
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Comments
2024-09-24T19:14-0500 | Comment by: Nelson
You can thank the Biden administration for being bunch of idiots and letting thugs in What the Biden administration is doing is illegal And yet not in the happens them scumbags
2024-09-24T19:14-0500 | Comment by: Nelson
You can thank the Biden administration for being bunch of idiots and letting thugs in What the Biden administration is doing is illegal And yet not in the happens them scumbags
2024-09-24T19:14-0500 | Comment by: Nelson
You can thank the Biden administration for being bunch of idiots and letting thugs in What the Biden administration is doing is illegal And yet not in the happens them scumbags
2024-09-24T19:14-0500 | Comment by: Nelson
You can thank the Biden administration for being bunch of idiots and letting thugs in What the Biden administration is doing is illegal And yet not in the happens them scumbags
2024-09-24T19:14-0500 | Comment by: Nelson
You can thank the Biden administration for being bunch of idiots and letting thugs in What the Biden administration is doing is illegal And yet not in the happens them scumbags
2024-09-24T22:18-0500 | Comment by: Paul
Not one to gain popularity for being frank and analytical, I feel that had the trooper been of sufficient size and strength to combat a drunken man, the life of the volunteer would not have been endangered nor passerbys when the trooper was relieved of her weapons and equipment in the state's vehicle.