ASP: Guatemalan man accused of resisting arrest, assaulting trooper on Interstate 49 in Arkansas

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Guatemalan man was shot and injured by a trooper after he allegedly resisted arrest and assaulted a trooper on Interstate 49 Saturday night, according to a news release.

Around 7:43 p.m., a trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after a man was seen traveling at a high rate of speed near mile marker 80 on I-49 southbound.

The man, identified as Angel Zapet-Alvarado, 26, reportedly refused to leave his vehicle and resisted the trooper’s attempt to remove him.

The trooper grabbed her taser after Zapet-Alvarado allegedly refused to comply but the man wrestled the taser away and threw it into traffic.

A motorist witnessed the incident and tried to help the trooper, according to the release. The trooper fired a round at Zapet-Alvarado and wounded him in the right temple.

Zapet-Alvarado was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and was released to law enforcement.

He was taken to the Benton County Detention Center and charged with second-degree battery. Zapet-Alvarado was then placed on hold for Homeland Security Investigation and additional charges are pending, according to ASP.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement after being briefed on the incident on Sunday.

“These two women who put their lives on the line to make sure their communities are safe, are heroes and thanks to their quick, brave action, a criminal illegal immigrant is in custody and off the streets. Even though they deny it and the media covers it up, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have created the worst border crisis in history and they must be held responsible.”

The trooper was treated for non-life-threatening injuries from the incident.

ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident.

This is a developing story. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest.