A police pursuit spanning two counties is causing controversy in Hot Springs.
Police are not releasing a lot of information, but do tell us the chase involved an illegal immigrant who remains in jail.
Meanwhile, they are investigating something that happened during the chase. Officer Joshua Heckel and officer 1st class Scott Lampinen both submitted their resignations.
It all began in Malvern when a police officer tried to pull over a man, who reportedly peeled out of a parking lot on Pine Bluff Street.
The chase started, and at one point, we’re told the illegal immigrant, 20-year-old Humberto Ramirez, fired two shots at a Malvern police officer.
The chase continued and eventually entered Hot Springs. Police there then began assisting with the pursuit.
Stop sticks blew out Ramirez's truck tires on Shady Grove Road and that's where the truck crashed.
What is currently under investigation is the role that Heckel and Lampinen played in the incident. However, authorities are remaining fairly tight lipped about the situation and what might have happened.
Hot Springs police Cpl. McCrary Means says, "We had two officers that did resign that became effective on October 12th and it is an ongoing investigation right and once we the investigation is complete, we'll be able to release some more information."
Malvern police say they have turned over dash-cam video to the Hot Springs Police Department. We’re told that shows the end of the pursuit and what happened next between officers and Ramirez. That video is expected to be released once the investigation is complete.
Meanwhile, Ramirez faces attempted capital murder, fleeing and criminal impersonation charges.
