Northwest Arkansas man accused of leading multiple agencies on pursuit through Lowell, Rogers

LOWELL, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — An Arkansas man is facing multiple charges after being accused of leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a pursuit through Benton County, according to court documents.

Antonio Aguirre, 29, was arrested on June 8 for fleeing, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, kidnapping, careless or prohibited driving, refusal to submit to arrest, and obstructing governmental operations.

Court documents say on June 8, an officer with the Lowell Police Department was observing traffic on Highway 71B near West Pleasant Grove Road and began following two vehicles, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Moments after the officer started following the vehicles, one abruptly turned onto Empire Street. The affidavit said the vehicle did not use a turn signal, had defective license plates and was “quickly” driving.

The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop and took an “extended period of time to stop,” according to the affidavit. It stopped near a Kum and Go convenience store in Lowell.

The officer approached the driver, later identified as Aguirre, and noticed he could not make consistent eye contact and was softly speaking, as if he was out of breath when he spoke, the affidavit said.

Both Aguirre and the passenger lacked identification, according to the document. When the officer asked Aguirre to step out of the vehicle, he drove off and led officers on a pursuit.

The pursuit started on Highway 71B, with Aguirre going 20 mph over the speed limit at the time and running red lights as he entered Rogers.

Aguirre allegedly would try to “lure officers out of their vehicle, only to flee again and create a greater gap,” according to the affidavit.

He then entered into residential areas, running multiple stop signs. On West Sunset Street in Rogers, Aguirre let the passenger out before he continued to flee.

Authorities later spoke with the passenger who said she asked Aguirre to stop the vehicle, but he didn’t.

The affidavit said officers with Lowell and Rogers police, deputies with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and troopers with Arkansas State Police were involved in the pursuit.

An ASP trooper performed a “tactical maneuver” and spun out Aguirre’s vehicle, but he was still able to flee, the document said. The trooper performed more maneuvers and each time Aguirre fled until ASP rammed his car.

Authorities removed Aguirre from the vehicle and tased while he reportedly resisted arrest. His shoe was removed and police found a white substance inside, which appeared to be methamphetamine, according to the affidavit.

Aguirre allegedly fled from law enforcement for around 26 minutes and the pursuit lasted 11 miles.

The affidavit said Aguirre had 26 arrest cycles between 2014-23 for various charges including theft, reckless driving and aggravated assault.

Aguirre is being held in the Benton County Detention Center on a $75,000 bond and has a court date set for July 15.

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