Jaime Mena-Najera, 19, from Rogers, was arrested Monday afternoon after assaulting an Arkansas State Trooper during a traffic stop on U.S. 62 and then fleeing on foot. The incident sparked an overnight manhunt that ended with his apprehension at 4 p.m. Monday, according to an Arkansas State Police news release.
The trooper initiated the stop around 8 p.m. Sunday after reports of reckless driving. When officers attempted to take Mena-Najera into custody, he resisted, assaulted the trooper, and ran away from the scene. Authorities said the trooper sustained a laceration and contusion near his eye along with an abrasion to his arm.
Following the assault, the trooper drove himself to Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville for treatment. He was examined and released the same night. The injuries were non-life-threatening but serious enough to require medical care.
Mena-Najera remained at large overnight as law enforcement officers in Benton County and surrounding areas coordinated to locate him. The search involved multiple agencies working together throughout the night, but Mena-Najera’s whereabouts were unknown until his arrest the following afternoon.
He is being held in the Benton County Jail pending a bond hearing. Authorities charged him with battery and escape. The investigation into the full circumstances of the traffic stop and subsequent assault is ongoing.
This episode adds to the recent concerns about safety on U.S. 62 and the increasing call for more enforcement along key travel corridors in Northwest Arkansas. Reckless driving complaints have risen locally in recent months, especially around busy routes connecting Rogers and Bentonville.
The Arkansas State Police highlighted the risks troopers face routinely when conducting traffic stops, especially when suspects become confrontational or attempt to evade arrest. This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers inherent in these routine enforcement duties.
Residents may recall similar incidents in the past year where drivers fled traffic stops leading to manhunts in the Bentonville-Rogers metro area. These pursuits frequently strain law enforcement resources but underscore the importance of community cooperation when spotting suspicious or reckless behavior on local roads.
Local law enforcement agencies continue to urge drivers to comply with traffic regulations and cooperate during stops for their own safety and the safety of officers. They also encourage anyone with information about this or similar cases to come forward to assist ongoing investigations.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
