Little Rock, Arkansas – After fleeing a traffic stop and firing at cops early on Sunday morning, an Arkansas State Police officer and a Mayflower police officer shot and killed the man.
53-year-old Scotty Helton, the victim, was declared dead at the spot.
Helton fled after Faulkner County Deputies attempted to pull over his car for dangerous and erratic driving at roughly 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8, according to a press release from the State Police.
The suspect was pursued by Faulkner County Deputies and Conway Police Officers through the Conway city limits and on backroads in Faulkner County.
Helton reportedly fired several shots at law enforcement personnel while they were being pursued.
The pursuit was subsequently joined by state troopers, who successfully put down spike strips on state route 89.
Helton arrived at the State Highway 89 and Interstate 40 crossing with deflated tires, where he collided with a concrete curb and the car came to a rest.
Helton pulled a revolver during the ensuing altercation, which resulted in three State Troopers and one Mayflower Police Officer firing their weapons.
Helton was in need of medical attention, but despite the troopers’ best efforts, he passed away immediately.
Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Arkansas State Police are looking into the officers’ use of fatal force. A prosecuting attorney with jurisdiction will review the investigative case file to determine whether the use of fatal force by the Mayflower Police Department and the Arkansas State Police was in accordance with Arkansas law.
The three state troopers have been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing in accordance with Arkansas State Police protocol. The Mayflower Police Department will choose whether to reveal the name of the implicated officer and their status as an administrative officer.