Stolen Donation Jar Leads to High Speed Chase in NWA
By: Amanda Ashley
Updated: November 3, 2012
It is not exactly the kind of parade University of Arkansas would have hoped for on homecoming weekend.
James Wesley Roork and Denise Berry were arrested Friday on multiple charges after police said they stole a donation jar from the UA campus Walmart and led officers on a high speed chase.
Lt. Gary Crane with the University of Arkansas Police Department said they got the call about a robbery around 8:50 in the morning.
According to reports, Roork, 26, had come into the store, grabbed a jar collecting donations and ran out.
He hopped into a white truck and drove off.
A short time later, Fayetteville police said they saw a white Ford Ranger that matched the description of the truck and attempted to pull it over on Wedington.
The truck led officers on a high speed chase headed south on I-540, nearly hitting several cars and hitting speeds over 100 miles an hour, according to police.
The truck was eventually stopped by spike strips Washington County deputies had laid out on the road near West Fork, according to reports.
During a search of the truck, police said they found marijuana, several smoking pipes, brass knuckles, plastic baggies, a hollowed out soda can, and the stolen money jar from the initial robbery.
They also reported discovering a Kel-Tek 9mm pistol was located in 25-year-old Berry's purse.
Police arrested Berry, who was a passenger in the car, and Roork.
Both were taken to the Washington County Jail.
