A high-speed pursuit on Saturday led to the arrest of 27-year-old Jace A. Waldrop of Mill Shoals who now faces multiple felony charges after authorities recovered a firearm and illegal drugs from his vehicle.
The incident began around 4:05 p.m. when dispatch reported Waldrop driving northbound on US Highway 45 in a blue Chevrolet Impala, allegedly under the influence of pills and armed with a loaded gun. A Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy located the Impala and attempted a traffic stop, but Waldrop sped away, reaching speeds over 100 mph northbound on US 45. Fairfield Police clocked the vehicle at 97 mph before Waldrop finally pulled over at 1006 S 1st Street.
Waldrop was taken into custody without incident. A protective sweep of the vehicle revealed a strong odor of cannabis and a rifle barrel in plain view. The vehicle’s owner, Hannah M. Vaught, arrived and consented to a search.
Officers seized a Daisy .22 caliber rifle with a spent round, a container with approximately 17 rounds of ammunition, a 3.3-liter nitrous oxide canister, a vial containing fentanyl, and a glass smoking device with methamphetamine residue found in Waldrop’s jacket. The rifle was confirmed not stolen and the vehicle was released to the owner.
Waldrop was transported to the Wayne County Jail and booked on multiple charges including two counts of armed violence, unlawful possession of a weapon and ammunition by a felon, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and violation of pretrial release conditions.