The Livingston County Sheriff is reporting an arrest in an auto theft investigation that began January 31 of this year.
The department notes that the suspect who stole the vehicle allegedly damaged a different yard in rural Livingston County then made their way into Daviess County. It was unknown at this time by authorities that the vehicle was stolen, however, the vehicle in question was involved in a chase with the Missouri State Highway Patrol with the suspect at the time eluding officers, then ditching the pickup in a remote area near Kearny, Missouri.
The pickup was located several days later and the Livingston County department responded to process the pickup. A search of the vehicle resulted in trace evidence which was sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab for DNA testing. As of late last week, the department was notified of the identity of the suspect via the DNA results.
On December 10, the department arrested 31-year-old Gregory Allen Simpson of Independence, Missouri at a rural Livingston County address for alleged auto theft. Simpson later attempted to flee authorities but was taken into custody for the second time.
Simpson has been charged in Livingston County with tampering with a motor vehicle in the first-degree and resisting arrest, both of which are felony charges. Bond was set at $25,000 and Simpson remains in the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail.
