(St. Joseph News Press) – A DeKalb man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges in Buchanan County after a chase ensued on Sunday evening on U.S. Highway 59, south of Missouri 752.
Jeffery Carpenter, 40, is charged with a felony for resisting a lawful stop by fleeing, and two class B misdemeanors for operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner and exceeding the posted speed limit.
According to the probable cause statement, Cpl. R. Dudeck with the Missouri State Highway Patrol registered Carpenter’s red Ford Explorer driving 87 mph — exceeding the posted speed limit by 26 mph — which prompted him to activate his emergency signals.
“I noticed Carpenter sped up and failed to yield to my emergency vehicle,” Dudeck said.
Carpenter’s vehicle passed several vehicles on the shoulder at high speeds, Dudeck said.
Dudeck caught up with Carpenter, before he drove the vehicle onto the left lane — oncoming traffic — and off the road into an adjacent field north of SW Pettet Road, according to the statement.
The vehicle returned to the road ½ mile north of SW Pettet Road and continued north. Dudeck reached Carpenter’s vehicle again before he went off the road into another field north of SW Contrary Creek Road, Dudeck said.
“Large embankment that Carpenter drove the vehicle over and it became airborne, approximately 8 to 10 feet in the air,” Dudeck said.
The vehicle became disabled in the field near SW Contrary Creek Road and Bluff Road SW, Dudeck said.
Two passengers were taken into custody and Carpenter was apprehended “laying down in some tall grass,” Dudeck said.
Carpenter is being held on $5,000 bond. His arraignment is set for Friday.
