On May 3, 2020, Arkansas State Police Trooper Kenya Campbell was on routine patrol, parked on I-40 West near mile marker 132, when a vehicle driven by a young woman, later identified as Kaelyn Marie Ashby, flew by her location at a high rate of speed. Trooper Campbell attempted to stop the vehicle, which instead accelerated away at speeds reaching 120 miles per hour. Ashby would later claim that she was not running from the police.
About four miles later, the pursuit ended in a random person’s driveway. Ashby was ultimately charged with reckless driving, speeding 15+ MPH over the limit, driving left of center, and fleeing, all at the misdemeanor level. Ashby was also charged – in a separate case – with possession of an instrument of crime, DWI drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
If the above description reads like a hacked-together collection of facts that collectively raise just as many questions as they answer, it’s not you. Publicly available court records from the two separate misdemeanor cases, bizarrely from the same originating incident, reflect the following dispositions:
Case #1
Possession of crime instrument: dismissed, civil penalty
DWI drugs, 1st: not guilty (acquittal)
Paraphernalia: nolle prosequi
Sentence: “motion of direct verdict granted”
Case #2
Reckless driving: nolle prosequi
Speeding, 15+ over: nolle prosequi
Driving left of center: nolle prosequi
Fleeing (misdemeanor): nolle prosequi
Sentence: “no sentence info found”
Yet there was apparently a trial held in Case #2 on 9/22/20, and Ashby paid fines in Case #1.
After spending an unexpectedly long amount of time on the phone trying to chase down an arrest report that should have been easy to locate, all evidence points toward the case against Ms. Ashby having been sealed.
Just as interesting, I noticed that Trooper Kenya Campbell was subpoenaed in September 2020 as “Former Trooper Kenya Campbell.”
Raising the obvious question: why “former?”
In Arkansas, all public employee evaluation records are generally secret. Even records of sustained police misconduct. Such records can only be released if (a) the employee was suspended or terminated (with finality), (b) the records in question formed a basis for the suspension or termination, and (c) the public has a compelling interest in records disclosure.
All of those conditions have to be met for any Arkansas disciplinary record to be disclosed. Consequently, nearly all reprimands, complaints, investigations – even commendations – are exempt from disclosure.
Fortunately (sort of) in this case we are looking for records associated with a possible termination. Earlier today I submitted the request. We’ll see what turns up.
Arkansas court records don’t reflect any cases involving Campbell after June 23, 2020. Also, minutes from a late-2015 meeting of the Arkansas State Police Commission tell an unusual story. Particularly in light of Campbell clearly having been employed in 2020:
“Colonel Bryant advised Recruit Kenya Campbell, 21 years old, during her initial EVOC Training; she failed to pass three of the courses. During the time frame of the initial training, she received individual training and was given numerous attempts to try to pass those parts of the driving course in Troop School. So I made the decision last week, last Thursday and Friday we gave her more remedial training along with another recruit by the name of Pettigrew. He passed all phases except the cone course and Thursday, they took him out and he passed the cone course. They also did some more training with Recruit Mitchell who had passed the cone course; they just felt he needed some more training on his driving. On Friday, they issued the cone course to Recruit Campbell close to 70 times to try to get her to pass the course and she could not pass the course. I had all driving instructors prepare memorandums describing what great lengths we went to try to get her to pass the driving course, the private instruction, the remedial training and they felt according to their memorandums she would be a liability to the Arkansas State Police.
I met with her personally this morning and again discussed with her what I am telling you as far as the documentation and I felt that in all good faith I could not give her keys to drive a State Police cruiser; I felt she would be a liability to herself and others. She chose not to resign, so I come to the Commission with the recommendation that we have to terminate Ms. Campbell. I hate that, but we have standards they must meet and we gave her training and more remedial training and she was not able to pass that course. After checking with the General Counsel, I think she would be a liability to the Arkansas State Police if we put her out on the road and she had an accident and hurt herself or others. My recommendation to the Commission is that we terminate Ms. Campbell.” And they did.
More to come.
~~~
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** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
What bearing does this officer's performance reviews have on this psycho woman's crimes? Answer: None.
fleeing is just a misdemeanor??? it should be a felony, its very dangerous to anyone they pass by
What people come up with to try getting out of a speeding ticket, instead gets them arrested.
Soooo… not only do they let you drive before you pass a driving test, but you’re even authorized to engage in a high-speed pursuit before passing a driving test? For something as minor as a speeding ticket?
Mhm. Okay.
Driver took acting lessons from Jussie.
sooo…its OK to go haulin balls at 120mph away from the police?!? is that what your trying to say???
Just faking it. Oh I'm scared of cops! Too much blm.
No evading police? Wtf lol. She must have family inside.
After watching the pursuit come to an end, I was thinking about how unexpectedly calm and in control the officer was. I was impressed. Then I was surprised to learn she was fired for failing a driving test? Something ain't right with the ASP…
She was Stoned out of her mind
Nice how the fleeing driver still uses the turn signals 😂
She's a complete fraud. Can't breathe my a&&.
Officer was excellent. Not sure what type of shady biz is going on there in Arkansas…but the video plus description doesn't pass the smell test.
Y’all need to take out this mans address.
what a really horrible faker.
114mph is not a “nervous woman.†That’s a fleeing suspect.
I *breaths* can't br,… *breaths* can't breathe!! *heavy, clear breathing*
And the Academy Award for worst acting gos too…..
First.
DRAMA!
Taking it all at face value, this is what happens when you don't have any adversity in your life. Something simple like a traffic stop turns into a 100+ MPH pursuit that puts lives in danger. Probably wasn't worth it for either of them.
can't breath so i drive 102 mph
Firing a woman for not being able to drive a police cruiser? Why not lower the standard so the requirements are more equitable?
I hate to say it might be a race thing on why this officer was terminated. She wasnt aggressive. She was safe on how she persued the vehicle. She called out on the rds and highways. She did everything right. But you terminate her. Crazy and ludicris.
I’m sorry 70 times?????????? 70 times this cop couldn’t pass a driving cone course?!?!? That’s incredible……
36:04 – in the back seat about to break her neck trying to see what they're doing with her purse lol
After reading the description, I have to ask, who pray tell does this women know, where these two (?) cases where the women only paid a fine for possession of drugs? Anyone else would have been thrown in jail. This woman must have some powerful connections. And if this trooper did not pass her driving course, I find it interesting that they allowed her to work for a short time as a trooper, it makes me question whether or not this incident with this particular woman who apparently has connections resulted in her dismissal because if her driving was as bad as they claim in the report during her training they would have never allowed her to work.
Everyone seems to use the "cant breath" tactic nowadays. If you cant breath, then why can you talk? Makes no sense to me when people say they cant breath, because if you cant breath then you cant talk, you need air to talk, and if you can talk and say you cant breath, then you actually have air.
Kaelyn must be another one of Bill's kids the ASP is watching over? Oh yeah, "mara-ouiji"? That's a newone for me, must be the REALLY good stuff?
If she couldn’t pass evoc why was she allowed to graduate? And so the white lady can flee at 100+ mph on the freeway and get off with a weak ass misdemeanor? Something’s up.
What a bum ditch. A real cupid stunt.
She got a lil 'marajaweejee' in der 😆 🤣 I want to meet this cop under non criminal circumstances lmao.
I’ve never been in the back seat of cop car but if I was I’d try to take a big ass crap or throw up lol just to do it ðŸ‘ðŸ½
Wow… "adults" these days act exactly like toddlers
There is more to this story than meets the eye.
YOUTUBE…HATE what uve done with the comment section!!!
Than you Officers for your service and the video.
If you have to take a driving test 70 times to pass it, maybe automobile operation is above your pay grade.
Read the description people..!!!
Can I have a napkin to wipe my face?
Can I have my cell phone?
Can I have my Dr pepper?
Me: look, drama queen. You've just been arrested so STFU.