State police investigate officer involved shooting

BATESVILLE, AR - The Arkansas State Police is investigating an officer involved shooting in Batesville.

According to reports, officials from the Independence County Sheriff’s Department responded to a Batesville residence around 10:13 pm on November 21 after receiving a call about an individual threatening to harm others.

Deputies say that as they moved into the area, a state trooper spotted a vehicle matching the description of one believed to be driven by the suspect who had fled the scene after callers had reported the threats. The suspect, later identified as 46-year-old James Chapman Perkins of Newark, rammed the vehicle into the State Police patrol car driven by the state trooper.

Perkins reportedly fled from the area and was pursued by the state trooper along with other officials. As Perkins approached the intersection of State Highways 233 and 69, he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash into a nearby ditch. Perkins then got out of the truck, and fired at police with a rifle. Perkins was wounded after police returned fire.

Perkins was transported to a Little Rock hospital where he underwent surgery and is being held.

This investigation is ongoing.