Man charged with stealing car during test drive

Suspect also led police on chase that reached speeds of 140 mph

A McCaskill, Ark., man who attempted to outrun five law enforcement agencies driving a stolen car has been charged with theft of property and fleeing.

Antonio L. Garner, 34, remains in the Howard County Jail in Nashville under a $100,000 bond and faces felony charges for allegedly stealing a 2016 Chrysler 300 C model car from York Gary Auto. Garner's trial date will be July 24.

The pursuit reached speeds of 140 mph.

The incident started about 8:50 a.m. Feb. 27, when Garner asked York Gary Auto salesman Arturo Perez for a test drive. Perez used the remote car starter.

When Garner stopped the car, he told Perez to get out of the car. When the car salesman got out Garner drove off.

The incident was reported to the sheriff's department.

Sheriff Bryan McJunkins and Nashville police Officer Greg Parker saw the car and the pursuit started.

The chase included the Howard County Sheriff's Department, Nashville Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Little River County Sheriff"s Department and the Sevier County Sheriff's Department.

The report said Garner drove on the wrong side of the roadway, passing other vehicles in curves and forcing oncoming traffic into the ditch. The chase traveled from Nashville to Mineral Springs, then to U.S. Highway 71 south to Ashdown

Officers were able to lay down spike strips in Ashdown to finally stop the car. The pursuit lasted about 30 minutes and no one was injured.

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