On the night of December 14, 2022, 45-year-old Sergeant Donald Scoby of the Stuttgart Police Department was killed during a pursuit that began when he attempted a traffic stop around 11:00 p.m. The driver, identified as 31-year-old Jacob Cole Barnes of Mountain View, fled, led officers on a vehicle chase south of Stuttgart, then abandoned his car near Rieger Road and S Yoder Road and ran on foot. Sgt. Scoby pursued; during the foot chase Barnes opened fire and fatally wounded the sergeant.

After the shooting, Barnes — reportedly armed and wearing body armor — forced his way into a nearby home on Rieger Road and took a woman hostage. The resident later was rescued by the Arkansas State Police SWAT team. A perimeter remained in place into the early morning of December 15; after the hostage was extricated around 7 a.m., Barnes exchanged gunfire with SWAT and was fatally wounded. An Arkansas State Trooper was shot during that exchange and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Sgt. Scoby was a four-year veteran of the Stuttgart Police Department and is described as a dedicated officer and beloved community member. The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division is leading the investigation. If anyone has information about the incident or knew Sgt. Scoby, please share what you know.