AUGUST 25, 2020
The Arkansas State Police has been requested to conduct an investigation of a Union County officer involved shooting. Local sheriff’s department authorities requested the investigation while a search was underway earlier today for an El Dorado man who commandeered a deputy’s patrol car.
Kyle Schroder, 20, of El Dorado was subsequently apprehended and is being held at the Union County Detention Center.
Schroder had been the driver of a stolen vehicle being pursued by a sheriff’s deputy about 11:30 AM today. As Schroder drove the stolen vehicle along Lynn Fite Road onto U.S. Highway 82, west of El Dorado, he lost control of the car and crashed the vehicle into a tree.
As a deputy attempted to take Schroder into custody, Schroder resisted and the two became involved in a physical altercation that moved from the highway to a nearby residence.
Schroder was able to overpower the deputy and fled back to the highway where he took control of the sheriff’s department patrol car. Inside the car was a rifle readily accessible. As the patrol car began to move with Schroder as the driver, the deputy fired his pistol and at least one round is believed to have penetrated the vehicle exterior.
The deputy involved in the fight sustained minor injuries.
Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division will prepare an investigative file to submit to the Union County prosecuting attorney to use in determining whether use of deadly force by the deputy was consistent with Arkansas laws. The agents are also preparing affidavits seeking formal charges of aggravated assault to be filed against Schroder.