January 17, 2025
The Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office has cleared Arkansas State Police Sgt. Gabe Monroe of any wrongdoing in his use of deadly force to disable a stolen bus in August of 2024. Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Will Jones concluded on January 8, 2025, that Trooper Monroe acted justifiably in the incident.
The referenced incident occurred on August 29, 2024, at approximately 7:40 a.m., when Elvin Richard, 29, of Lonoke County, fled from Troopers in a stolen motorcoach bus. Troopers pursued Richard on U.S. Highway 70 westbound before Richard turned onto Highway 161 and then onto railroad tracks. The bus had been stolen from Little Rock at approximately 3 a.m.
Richard drove the bus into the Union Pacific Rail Yard Terminal at 1020 West Bethany in North Little Rock, where Sgt. Monroe disabled the bus by shooting its tires. Richard was not injured during the incident and was taken into custody.
The Little Rock Police Department is leading the investigation into the initial theft of the bus.