Izard County Deputy injured in pursuit
What started out as a call of criminal mischief and assault turned into a vehicle pursuit causing injury to an Izard County Deputy.
On September 30 at approximately 12:40 p.m., the Izard County Dispatch received a call from a local business owner about a vehicle turning into their parking lot and throwing gravel all over parked cars. Within a few minutes, a victim advised the suspect vehicle purposely turned toward him and hit him with his fender knocking him back.
When the suspect vehicle turned onto Barren Fork Road, near the end of the pursuit, Chief Deputy Steve Davidson had blocked the road at the Barren Fork Bridge with his patrol vehicle. Chief Davidson had gotten out of his vehicle. The suspect vehicle did not slow down and headed directly toward Chief Davidson’s vehicle. Chief Davidson fired his shotgun at the vehicle just prior to the suspect vehicle hitting Chief Davidson’s patrol vehicle. The result of the crash caused Chief Davidson’s patrol vehicle to hit him causing serious non-life-threatening injuries. Two other Izard County patrol vehicles were also damaged during the pursuit.
After the crash, the suspect fled on foot and was apprehended within a short time. The suspect was identified as Zachoria Henry, 27 of Melbourne. Empty beer cans were located in Henry’s truck and he admitted to law enforcement to consuming alcohol and ingesting illegal narcotics leading up to the pursuit.
Chief Deputy Steve Davidson underwent surgery to his left leg and foot due to severe and serious breaks caused in the incident.
At this time he is doing as well as can be expected. However, he will have further surgeries in the coming days for his leg and foot to continue to heal.
The Arkansas State Police was contacted and has taken over the investigation. Henry is facing felony charges of first degree battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing in a vehicle, aggravated assault and first degree criminal mischief along with misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated – drugs, driving while driver’s license is suspended for DWI, reckless driving and failure to register a motor vehicle. He is being held without bond at this time. Henry is being held in the Independence County Jail in Batesville without bond.
