A Trenton man is facing numerous charges after allegedly leading an officer on a high-speed chase in Daviess County, threatening to kill the officer and jumping into a river in an escape attempt.
24-year-old Zachariah O’Neal is charged in Daviess County with three felonies for assault or attempted assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and resisting or interfering with a arrest. He is also charged with seven misdemeanors for operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, two for exceeding the posted speed limited by 20-25 mph, operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident, possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and resisting or interfering with arrest.
According to court documents on Saturday just before 2:30 p.m. Officer Larry Watson with the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office said he saw a silver 2006 Ford Crown Victoria traveling west on Missouri 6 at 304th street 10 miles over the posted speed limit of 60MPH.
“I turned my patrol vehicle around and proceeded after the vehicle,” Watson said. “As we traveled west on Missouri 6, I observed I was not gaining on the vehicle as I was traveling 120 MPH. I caught up to the vehicle near Missouri 6 at Missouri Route K and observed we were traveling 130 MPH when limited to 60 MPH.”
Watson said he turned his lights and siren on and initiated a pursuit.
“I followed the vehicle west on Missouri 6 to Missouri 13 North, when I observed the vehicle abruptly attempt to turn north onto Missouri 13,” Watson said. “The vehicle lost control and spun around within the intersection. The vehicle accelerated and began coming at me head-on. I was able to successfully drive defensively and avoided a head on collision.”
Watson said the chase went through the Village of Jameson at a high-rate of speed and continued until the vehicle became disabled on Kodiak Avenue at the Grand River Bridge.
“Upon the vehicle stopping, I approached the vehicle with my duty weapon drawn,” Watson said. “I gave the driver several commands, but he refused to comply.”
Watson said O’Neal threatened him.
“The driver, who was the only occupant within the vehicle, threatened to kill me once he got his gun,” Watson said. “The driver began reaching around within the vehicle. I continued to yell at the driver to keep his hands in view, to open the doors and exit the vehicle. All the time the driver continued to yell back for me to shoot him.”
During that time Watson said the driver was also attempting to smoke what appeared to be a blunt, a cigar mixed with tobacco and marijuana.
“I was able to break a hole into the driver’s side door glass, where I deployed my Taser into the driver,” Watson said.
But Watson said O’Neal took off out of the passenger side and ran into the timber.
“I proceeded after the driver and gave chase on foot,” Watson said. “I pursued the driver to the Grand River, at which time I observed him jumping into the river.”
Watson said he called for additional assistance from law enforcement to search for O’Neal.
“11:02 hours, the driver was apprehended after the assistance of a Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel, Helicopter and river boat,” Watson said.
O’Neal is currently being held on $100,000 cash only bond.