DQPD officer shot, wounded during high-speed pursuit

By Patrick Massey

An officer with the De Queen Police Department shot during a pursuit on Saturday has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Lt. Chad Bradshaw was involved in the pursuit of a suspect on a motorcycle early Saturday morning that began in Sevier County and later ended with the suspect’s arrest in Little River County.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect fired multiple rounds at pursuing law enforcement while traveling south on Highway 41. Both a Sevier County Deputy Sheriff’s patrol unit and a DQPD vehicle were struck during the pursuit. One of the rounds struck Bradshaw in the right shoulder. He was transported to the Sevier County Medical Center and was released later that day to recover at home.

The suspect, identified as 37-yearold Kenneth Lee Smith of De Queen, was later arrested following a manhunt in Little River County near Foreman. During the pursuit, Smith allegedly traveled at speeds of over 90 miles per hour and repeatedly traveled in the opposite lane, endangering the lives of law enforcement and other motorists.

The incident began following a report of a domestic disturbance at 113 Sweet Home Lane in De Queen. Upon arrival, the responding officer was met with gunfire and his patrol unit was hit with multiple rounds. Smith then reportedly fled the scene on a motorcycle, leading to the subsequent pursuit.

Smith was later located in Little River County with the assistance of dog and horse teams, as well as drones and an Arkansas State Police helicopter. The manhunt lasted several hours before Smith was apprehended without further incident.

In a statement to Lori Dunn with The Texarkana Gazette, LRCO Sheriff Bobby Walraven said Smith continued to be aggressive even with the pursuing K9 units.

Agencies involved in the pursuit included the Sevier County and Little River County Sheriff’s Offices, the De Queen Police Department, the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Highway Police, the Arkansas Department of Corrections and the Ninth West Judicial Drug Task Force.

Sevier County Sheriff Robert Gentry and DQPD Chief Scott Simmons said in a statement that they sincerely thank the Arkansas State Police for the sending their helicopter equipped with infrared and the Arkansas Department of Correction Canine Tracking Team for bringing their dogs and horses to help locate and apprehend Smith.

The Little River County Sheriff’s Office made a statement on its Facebook page informing landowners in the pursuit area that a number of fences were cut to allow officers to track Smith. Sheriff Walraven said authorities attempted to make contact with the owners of the affected property to inform them of the cut fences. Walraven said a number of landowners declined reimbursement for their damaged fences but said landowners seeking compensation can call the sheriff’s office at 870898-5115.

In addition, authorities thanked citizens who assisted in the manhunt by providing information on the possible location of Smith. Walraven also thanked Cathy Sanders, wife of LRCO Chief Deputy Kevin Sanders, for providing breakfast to officers involved in the pursuit.

The case is currently under investigation by the Arkansas State Police and formal charges against Smith are pending.