Suspect pursued over hills, through fields, by air

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

— Tessa Reyna was grilling dinner outside her house on Hickman Road when she saw a young male running, then walking through the field in front of her house. She thought it was suspicious and called the police department.

Reyna had no way of knowing that the young man was the subject of a pursuit involving Pea Ridge and Little Flock police and Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies. The pursuit began with vehicles, but when the suspect abandoned the stolen car on McRae Lane, and fled on foot, officers pursued on foot, in vehicles and on four-wheelers.

Within a few minutes, Reyna’s husband’s was driving up the dirt road heading home when he saw a young man walking through the field. The young man immediately crouched down to hide, Mr. Reyna said.

Police officers and deputies arrived and headed toward the fields and woods north of the house.

A helicopter was brought in by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to aid in the search.

Reyna said she wasn’t scared, but realized the situation was suspicious.

“I hope they catch him,” she said, looking towards her young daughters.

Another resident of the rural area northwest of town, Christy Beaver, lent her four-wheelers to officers to aid in the pursuit.

By dark that evening, there had been no word of a capture, but officers believed the suspect to have been picked up and given a ride by a relative out of the area. Shortly after midnight, Wednesday morning, the boy’s sister, Jordan Gail Fetherolf, 19, of 18 Spencer Drive in Bella Vista, was arrested for felony hindering apprehension or prosecution.

By Wednesday, the 15-year-old male was apprehended by Bentonville police after stealing a second car.

During the initial pursuit, the suspect hit a Pea Ridge police car on Weston Street while trying to evade capture. That accident is being investigated by the Arkansas State Police.

BCSO Capt. Mike Jones said the boy’s parents live in Bella Vista, but the boy was living with his grandfather in Alabama. The grandfather brought the boy back for the court appearance when he ran away and stole a car.

The initial pursuit began when undercover BCSO deputies observed what they believed to be a rolling disturbance. As they followed the vehicle, according to sheriff’s office reports, they noticed the car being driven erratically and then a girl exited the vehicle. Police in Little Flock were notified as the pursuit led into Little Flock, and then north into Pea Ridge.

Police said the boy’s family was trying to contact him via cell phone and appeared to be trying to help police. Authorities later learned the boy’s relatives aided the boy in eluding authorities, resulting in the arrest of Fetherolf.

News, Pages 12 on 09/29/2010