PEARL, MS — Pearl police say a 29-year-old Mississippi man swallowed narcotics during a high-speed chase on Sept. 19, then intentionally rammed multiple patrol vehicles before officers took him into custody and sent him to a hospital.
The suspect, identified by police as Zachary Brooks, was stopped after officers tried to pull over a silver Toyota Corolla that refused to yield to emergency lights and sirens. The pursuit escalated quickly, and police say it ended only after officers used a Tactical Vehicle Intervention, or TVI, to stop the car.
Police say Brooks was later hospitalized at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Traffic stop turned into a high-speed pursuit
According to Pearl Police, the incident began when officers attempted a routine stop of the Corolla. Instead of pulling over, the driver kept going at a high rate of speed, prompting officers to follow.
The department says the chase unfolded on Sept. 19 and involved emergency lights and sirens that did not get the driver to stop. The pursuit then moved into a more dangerous phase, with officers eventually deciding to use a TVI maneuver to bring the vehicle to a halt.
Police have not said where the chase started or how long it lasted. They have also not released details about the exact route taken before the car was stopped.
Police say Brooks rammed patrol vehicles after the TVI
After officers used the TVI, police say Brooks intentionally struck multiple patrol vehicles. Pearl Police reported that two police units suffered functional damage during the encounter.
The department also said a civilian vehicle hit the rear of a patrol unit, leaving both vehicles disabled. That crash caused minor injuries to the civilian driver, who was taken by ambulance to Baptist Hospital.
Police said the officer involved was not injured. The department did not identify the driver of the civilian vehicle or say whether anyone else inside the cars needed medical attention.
Officers say narcotics were swallowed during the chase
Once Brooks and a female passenger were taken into custody, police say they discovered Brooks had swallowed narcotics during the pursuit. Officers then transported him to the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Pearl Police did not identify the type or amount of narcotics they believe Brooks ingested. The department also did not explain how officers determined he had swallowed them.
Police have not released an update on his condition or treatment. They also did not announce any charges against the female passenger and provided no additional information about her role.
Louisiana warrant added to the case
Brooks’ arrest brought another issue to the surface: Pearl Police say he had an active NCIC warrant from Louisiana for aggravated battery. The department also said he was subject to full extradition for a drug court violation.
Police listed several Mississippi charges in connection with the pursuit, including felony fleeing, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of paraphernalia and two counts of destruction of state property. He also received two seatbelt violations, according to the department.
The department did not provide details about the Louisiana aggravated battery case or the drug court violation. Those matters remain separate from the Mississippi allegations and were not resolved in the police announcement.
Jail record shows three Mississippi offenses and a December court date
A Rankin County jail record shows Brooks was booked Sept. 19 at about 4:16 p.m., the same day police say the chase ended. The record lists Pearl Police as the arresting agency and gives his first court date as Dec. 17, 2026.
The jail record currently shows three offenses: felony fleeing in pursuit of a marked police car, felony aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer or public official, and felony malicious mischief. No bond amount is listed with those charges.
The jail information is shorter than the charges Pearl Police listed in its announcement, but the available records do not explain the difference. Each record reflects what that agency currently shows.
