Sheriff’s Office: Man in stolen car hits detective, tries to carjack passerby

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Forty-year-old Jerry Wayne Smith was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly hitting a White County Sheriff’s Office detective in a stolen car, threatening the detective with a pocket knife, and then trying to carjack a truck who stopped for the accident.

The sheriff’s office says Smith was driving east on Rocky Point Road in a white Buick (which was stolen earlier in the morning) when he crossed the center line and hit the detective’s truck in the driver’s side door. The Buick then crashed into a nearby yard.

According to the report, Smith tried to run away and the detective tried to stop him. Smith then pulled out a knife, the detective responded by pulling out his gun. Smith dropped the knife and ran over to a red truck that had stopped for the original accident.

The sheriff’s office says Smith tried to pull the driver out of the truck, but was unable to because the driver was wearing his seat belt. Smith still tried to drive off in the truck, so the detective shot out the front driver’s side tire. At this point, Smith ran off further down the road and tried to force another driver out of their car, but was forced to the ground by the detective, with the assistance of the Judsonia Police Department.

Both the detective and White were taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries received in the crash.

Smith was booked into the White County jail on charges of aggravated robbery and 2nd degree battery. The sheriff’s office says more charges could be forthcoming. Smith’s bond was set at $100,000.