By Rupert Howell
An alleged shoplifter who left Walmart and was seen by an officer driving on Highway 6 toward Batesville at a high rate of speed had already wrecked by the time the officer caught up on New Year’s Eve on Highway 6E in Batesville.

Patrolman Alex Aikens’ incident report states that Nicholas Robert Arnold of Spring Hill, Tenn. was given a ticket for no driver’s license, no proof of insurance, reckless driving and DUI first prior to being transported to the Panola County Jail.

Aikens’ report stated, “At approximately 3:04 a.m. dispatch advised that a male subject was shoplifting from Walmart. Dispatch also advised the subject was driving a silver vehicle at a high rate of speed.”

Aikens’ report went on to state that he was standing by at Popeye’s when he saw a  silver Chrysler pass, “at approximately 90 miles per hour,” on Highway 6 East.

“I tried to catch up . . . turned on my blue lights and followed the vehicle to Highway 6 West, where the driver had already lost control  . .  and hit a telephone pole and damaged the phone lines,” Aikens’ narrative reads.

He continues, “Arnold then exited and attempted to run behind the building.”

He was then arrested and Aikens smelled, “a strong intoxicating odor” coming from Arnold.
“I asked Arnold for his driver license and he stated that he didn’t have a license,” the report states,  and neither did he have liability insurance nor would he agree to take the intoxilyzer test when he was transported to Batesville Police Department.

Other incident reports from the recent holidays included: a report of two vehicles being shot.
Patrolman Brandon Urban’s incident report revealed that two vehicles, a 2013 black Dodge Challenger and a 2011 black Chevrolet Camaro had been shot. The report also stated that the vehicles had been previously “hit with eggs.”

The owner stated he went outside that morning  to empty the garbage and noticed there were “dings,” in his car that looked as if it had been shot with a pellet gun. Detective Jeremiah Brown was called to the scene.

A January 4 report of BPD Sergeant Justin Maples stated that a window of a vehicle had been “busted out” while the owners were asleep in their apartment.

According to the report, owners had parked the vehicle around 2 a.m. and around 9:30 a.m. while taking out garbage they found the window, “busted out.”

Several facts included in each of these reports were redacted (blanked out) as each is an ongoing investigation.