Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – July 10, 2024 – During a probable cause hearing on Wednesday afternoon, 28-year-old Timothy Crabtree went before Judge Boling regarding several charges.

The PC document states that on Monday morning, ASP Trooper Joshua Landreth stopped a vehicle with an expired license plate on Interstate 555. During the stop, the driver, later identified as Timothy Payton Crabtree, fled the scene at speeds exceeding 100 mph. Because he had already made contact once, Trooper Landreth knew that there was a child approximately four years old in the backseat of the vehicle.

Trooper Brian Merrill joined the pursuit, which continued through Bay, Trumann, and into Crittenden County where spike strips disabled Crabtree’s vehicle.

During the pursuit, Trooper Merrill’s vehicle rolled, injuring him and disabling his vehicle.

After stopping, Crabtree abandoned his vehicle with the child inside and fled on foot into a wooded area, but was apprehended by Poinsett Deputy Gibson and his K9 unit after attempting to evade capture in a nearby ditch.

Read the entire probable cause document below for more details.

During the hearing, Judge Boling explained to Crabtree that he was being charged with fleeing in a vehicle, endangering the welfare of a minor, reckless driving, obstructing governmental operations, fleeing on foot, resisting arrest, no liability insurance, failing to stop at a red light, driving on a suspended license, and expired vehicle tags.

After receiving his initial bond of $100,000 cash/surety, Crabtree walked away from the bench and called Judge Boling a “d*ckhead” under his breath.

At that time, Judge Boling decided to raise Crabtree’s bond to $100,000 cash only.

His next court date is set for August 23.


Entire probable cause narrative:

On 7 /9/24 at approximately 9: 50 am Trooper Joshua Landreth observed a gray Ford Escape displaying AR license plate […] traveling southbound on Interstate 555. The license plate was expired as of 04/2024. Trooper Landreth conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at mile marker 39. Trooper Landreth contacted the operator who identified himself as Dreyon Crabtree with a date of birth 12/14/1997. At the same time, Trooper Landreth observed a small child in a car seat in the vehicle’s rear seat. Trooper Landreth was unable to get a driver’s license return on the name given. During the encounter, the operator drove away from the stop location. Trooper Landreth pursued the vehicle. Within just a short time of the pursuit beginning, Trooper Brian Merrill joined as a secondary unit. The suspect, later identified as Timothy Payton Crabtree (DOB 12/13/1995), fled southbound on I555 at speeds exceeding 100 mph. Crabtree took the Highway 463 exit, then traveled southbound on Highway 463 through the towns of Bay and Trumann. Crabtree passed several. vehicles while traveling in the turn lane and ran red lights while fleeing through the city limits of Trumann traveling at a speed of more than 100 miles per hour. Crabtree continued southbound on Highway 463 until getting back on Interstate 555 southbound. Crabtree traveled southbound on the interstate until taking exit 13 and traveling southbound on Highway 149. Crabtree continued to travel at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Crabtree then traveled eastbound on Highway 42 into Crittendon County. Crittendon County Deputies were able to set up and deploy spike sticks on Highway 42 just south of Interstate 55. Crabtree drove over the spike strips causing three of the vehicle’s tires to go flat.  While attempting to avoid the spike strips, Trooper Merrill lost control of his vehicle causing him to travel off the highway into a large ditch. Trooper Merrill’s vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop. Trooper Merrill was transported to St Bernard’ s by ambulance due to injuries sustained from the crash. Crabtree continued to travel on Highway 42 approximately a half mile east of Interstate 55 where he came to a stop, then fled from the vehicle on foot, leaving a four-year-old unattended in the vehicle. Crabtree fled into a brushy ditch line to the north of the Highway. Poinsett County Deputy W. Gibson assisted Trooper Landreth in locating Crabtree in the ditch with his K9 partner. Deputy Gibson deployed his K9 partner into the ditch where Gibson fled. A short time later, the K9 located Gibson inside very thick brush where he was attempting to conceal himself. The K9 bit Crabtree on the lower right leg. Crabtree fought against the K9 in an attempt to get free and tried to pin the K9 against the ground with the weight of his body. The K9 hung on to Crabtree until he could be pulled from the brush and placed under arrest by Officers. Crabtree was transported to St Bernards where he was treated for minor injuries and then taken to the Craighead County Detention Center. Crabtree’ s careless actions put the public’s lives in substantial danger of death or serious physical injury. Crabtree also created a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to the 4-year-old child in the vehicle at the time of this incident.