Mazda Protege darts through rush hour traffic attempting to lose Arkansas State Police #pursuit

On 08 February 2024, at approximately 16:39, I ( Cpl. Oglesby) was traveling westbound on Interstate 30, near Curtis Sykes, in the number 2 lane. There was a gold passenger car, (later identified as a 1999 Gold Mazda Protégé, Arkansas License plate Number: AIV81D) traveling westbound, in the number 1 lane. The driver of the vehicle (an unknown younger black male) did not have a seatbelt on. I could see the belt strap hanging down beside him. I activated my emergency equipment and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The Mazda changed lanes and got in front me, but continued driving. After a short distance, he accelerated and changed lanes from the number 1 lane, before cutting in front of another vehicle. I advised dispatch of the pursuit and followed the vehicle. The driver of the Mazda cut recklessly through rush hour traffic. He took multiple exits, in an attempt to elude capture, reaching speeds as high as 108 M.P.H. The Mazda driver almost collided with multiple vehicles in the pursuit of his fleeing. The driver recklessly continued the pursuit from North Little Rock to 65th Street in Little Rock. He was able to gain distance on my unit with the reactions of the other drivers in the heavy traffic, due to his reckless manner of driving. While taking the 65th Street exit, I ran over a piece of metal with my passenger side front tire, causing an immediate evacuation of its air. At approximately 16:45, I advised dispatch the pursuit was terminated due to the flat tire on my patrol vehicle.