CFL Receiver, Former Oregon Duck and NFL Draft Pick Identified as Suspect in Nov. 17 Multi-County Chase

JONESBORO, Ark. — A professional wide receiver in the Canadian Football League and former Oregon Ducks standout has been identified as the driver in a high-speed pursuit on Nov. 17, a detail not previously connected to the incident when it was first reported.

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Dillon Mitchell, 28, of Memphis, faces felony charges in multiple counties after the high-speed chase that was first reported last week. Mitchell is a wide receiver in the CFL and was a seventh-round pick in the NFL Draft by the Vikings in 2019.

How it started

The pursuit began in Lawrence County when Black Rock Police Chief Bryan Archer noticed a black Ford Mustang speeding 80 mph in a 55 mph zone, traveling south on U.S. 63. Archer activated his emergency lights, but the driver sped up and passed an 18-wheeler in the turning lane. Archer lost sight of the car and radioed to authorities to be on the lookout.

Not long after that, the Lawrence County Judge radioed that a driver on his property on County Road 504 was “acting crazy.” It was the Mustang.

Chief Archer turned down the road, and the Mustang began coming head-on toward him, swerving at the last second and going through a field. Archer said the Mustang continued down 504 and turned South onto U.S. 63. The vehicle made a U-turn, almost hitting another driver head-on, Archer reported. Other authorities joined in the pursuit, with the vehicle eventually heading south at speeds of up to 130 mph.

The chase continued into Craighead County.

How it ended

Cpl. Jeffrey Irvin wrote that Troop C dispatch alerted him to the pursuit and that he positioned himself near County Road 140 as the Mustang approached at a high rate of speed. As it neared his location, the vehicle moved into the center turn lane to pass another southbound car, the report said. Irvin activated his lights and siren and attempted to catch up.

The report states the driver continued at more than 100 miles per hour, passing vehicles on the shoulder and in the center lane. The Mustang allegedly ran the red light at U.S. 63 and U.S. 63B, narrowly avoiding a truck that was turning onto the highway.

The pursuit entered Interstate 555, where speeds again exceeded 100 miles per hour. Near mile marker 47, the driver attempted to turn right from the left lane onto the Washington Avenue exit, lost control, and struck the metal exit sign. The vehicle came to a stop before re-entering the interstate.

The state trooper arrested Mitchell. He was taken to the Craighead County Detention Center and faces charges of felony fleeing, DWI first, refusal to submit to a chemical test, reckless driving, speeding more than 15 miles per hour, driving without a license, careless and prohibited driving, and disregarding a red light. A crash report notes damage to the Exit 47 sign.

Judge Tommy Fowler set his bail at $5,000 cash-only, calling him a danger to the public. He has since bonded out of jail.

New details

After a comment by reader Justin Blackburn, NEA Report confirmed the identification by matching the birthdate in the arrest record with publicly available information from ESPN.com.

Mitchell is currently a wide receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Before turning pro, he was a star at the University of Oregon and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

However, he isn’t just facing legal charges in Craighead County.

Court records show authorities in Lawrence County have obtained an arrest warrant for Mitchell on charges of felony fleeing, aggravated assault, and first-degree reckless driving, along with a host of other infractions. Because Lawrence County is in the Third Judicial District and Craighead is in the Second Judicial District, he faces two different court cases with two different prosecutors.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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