July 28, 2024
ROGERS, Ark. – A Guatemalan man was injured after resisting arrest and assaulting a Trooper during a traffic stop on Interstate 49 Saturday, July 27, 2024.
At approximately 7:43 p.m., a Trooper stopped a suspect on I-49 southbound after the suspect was observed traveling at a high rate of speed in heavy traffic near the 80-mile marker. The driver, Angel Zapet-Alvarado, 26, refused to exit the vehicle and resisted the Trooper’s efforts to remove him. The Trooper deployed her taser when he refused to comply. Zapet-Alvarado wrestled the Trooper’s Taser from her hands and threw it into interstate traffic.
A 31-year-old female motorist who witnessed the altercation stopped her vehicle and tried to assist the Trooper. The Trooper used her service weapon to fire one round at Zapet-Alvarado, wounding him in the right temple.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been briefed on the incident.
“These two women who put their lives on the line to make sure their communities are safe, are heroes and thanks to their quick, brave action, a criminal illegal immigrant is in custody and off the streets. Even though they deny it and the media covers it up, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have created the worst border crisis in history and they must be held responsible,” Gov. Sanders said.
Col. Mike Hagar said, “I pray every day for the safety of our Troopers as they sacrifice their own safety for the sake of our innocent civilians. I thank God today that He kept our Trooper alive and that He placed an unbelievably brave civilian by her side during her time of need.”
“I have the same fear and frustration any time someone assaults one of our Troopers, but it’s even more disturbing that this suspect is an undocumented, illegal immigrant from Guatemala,” Col. Hagar said. “That shows another level of lawlessness that will not be tolerated in our state.”
Zapet-Alvarado was transported to Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, where he was treated and released to law enforcement. He was transported to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center and charged with Second-Degree Battery and placed on hold for Homeland Security Investigation (HSI). Additional charges are pending.
The Trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries she sustained when Zapet-Alvarado assaulted her.
ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident.
An investigative case file will be presented to the prosecuting attorney, who will determine whether the use of deadly force was consistent with Arkansas law.