Basketball player from Jonesboro gets probation after fleeing officer

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - A University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff basketball player from Jonesboro received 36 months of probation after he pleaded guilty to running from a police officer.

Quion Montez Williams pleaded guilty May 28 to fleeing and second-degree battery, both Class D felonies. Circuit Judge Randy Philhours sentenced him to 36 months of probation on each charge.

The judge also sentenced Williams to 12 months suspended imposition of sentence on a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge. Williams must also pay court costs and fines, as well as $300 in restitution.

Charges of carrying a weapon and second-degree criminal mischief were dropped.

About 11 p.m. March 26, a Jonesboro police officer saw a vehicle driven by Williams without a working taillight, fail to use a turn signal while making a turn on Bridge Street, according to the affidavit.

The officer attempted to pull the vehicle over.

“Through his training and experience, he believed that Williams’ manner of driving and actions led him to suspect that Williams was attempting to evade him,” the affidavit said. “It would later be discovered that Williams had a canceled driver’s license.”

The officer caught up to the vehicle and saw Williams had already exited the vehicle. The officer attempted to detain Williams, but Williams fled. The officer grabbed Williams to prevent him from escaping, but Williams continued to resist.

“During this struggle, [the officer] felt an intense pop and pain in his shoulder,” the affidavit said. “[The officer] continued to pursue him and observed Williams scale a fence behind a residence.”

The fence collapsed under Williams, causing about $300 in damage, according to the affidavit.

Police later arrested Williams and found a handgun in his vehicle. The affidavit said Williams is on probation and not allowed to carry a firearm.

The injured officer was treated at an emergency room and believes he may have seriously injured his shoulder, the affidavit said.

A detective investigating the incident noted in the affidavit that Williams seemed “apologetic” and did not intend to injure the officer.

Williams was arrested in May 2025 for threatening to shoot someone in the head.

According to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s athletic website, Williams is a senior forward. He played at Abilene Christian University before playing at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

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