THE MORNING NEWS

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS — Police arrested a man suspected of hitting a pole with a car and almost knocking down an employee from Cox Communications, who was working on the pole Friday morning.

Assefa G. Egziabher, 30, of Fayetteville was arrested in a house after leaving the scene of the accident near South Washington Avenue and 15th Street. where the accident happened, said Sgt. Mike Key, Fayetteville Police spokesman.

According to a police report, Egziabher, a native of Ethiopian, fled the scene on foot and hid in a house near the site of the accident, where police arrested him.

Cox employee Russell Beard had called police and said he was almost knocked down when the pole was hit by the car.

According to the police report, a woman was asking witnesses not to call the police. There was an empty holster in the vehicle.

Assefa is being held at the Washington County Jail.