AR Times: “Racop’s post has documentation of Little Rock police officers’ pursuit in March 2021, sometimes at high speeds, of an SUV occupied by three teens, including a 12-year-old driver who didn’t have permission to use the family vehicle. It ended in a crash that killed one passenger and injured the driver and another passenger.
One officer didn’t follow an order not to chase the vehicle driven. Another violated policy by trying to “box in” the vehicle at a stop, a dangerous maneuver. The chase resumed, at speeds up to 102 mph, before a crash in Saline County.
According to Racop’s account, the cop who disobeyed the order not to chase was Henry Topps, who resigned from the force in January. His name, however, is redacted from documents Racop received because the officer was not suspended or terminated following an administrative hearing. A redacted document indicates the officer received “counseling.” The officer who boxed in the vehicle, Joshua Thomas, got a 40-hour suspension, according to document Racop obtained. Thomas is identified in records Racop received because he was suspended. I have asked LRPD for the name of the officer who initiated the chase. That information should be public and not protected even if later subject to a disciplinary review.”