11/16/16   Bearden Man Arrested Following High Speed Chase

A Bearden man was arrested on October 24 and charged with three counts of aggravated assault and fleeing. On October 5, 28 year old Dylan E. Johnson of Bearden was behind the wheel of a 2007 Chevy Tahoe when a police officer attempted to pull him over. Instead of pulling over, Johnson took off at a high rate of speed down Bowman Road, to highway 79 north, down state highway 203, turning onto Ouachita Co Road 95, onto highway 9, back to highway 79 where, at a high rate of speed failed to stop at either 79-north or south, fleeing down Ouachita County Road 233 to 232, where he ran a Ouachita County Deputy Sheriff off the road.

The chase led to Ouachita County Road 247 where Johnson's pursuers lost sight of his vehicle. While three deputies stood out side their vehicles, Johnson cranked up his vehicle and headed for them through the woods at a high rate of speed, going airborne, landing on the right front tire, and speeding away.

Johnson's vehicle was later found in Calhoun County after the father of the passengers in Johnson's vehicle, Melinda Steel,  alerted authorities where the vehicle was. Johnson was no where to be found. He was later arrested on October 24, was released after paying $25,000.00 bond.

Officers said Johnson was traveling in speeds over 100 mph during the chase. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney R. Jeffrey Sawyer says the prosecutor's office will seek to have Johnson tried under the habitual criminal statute allowing the judge to tack on additional jail time. Johnson was on parole at the time of the incident.