Two St. Joseph men have been charged after a high-speed pursuit Tuesday in Andrew County.
Travis Stout is charged with felonies for possession and tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution and a misdemeanor for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. William Duncan is charged with a felony for resisting arrest and 10 misdemeanor charges including numerous traffic violations.
According to court documents, Investigator Grant Gillett with the Andrew County Sheriff’s Department said the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force requested assistance in stopping a vehicle that had a suspect inside that allegedly ran from the Strike Force a week earlier.
“Investigator Hewitt stated that the vehicle was sitting on the lot of Jessie’s Last Stop at 71 and I-29,” Gillett said. “With four occupants inside the vehicle.”
Just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, Gillett said the red Pontiac pulled out of the gas station parking lot onto 71 Highway then onto the ramp of I-29 northbound and failed to use the left turn signal.
“I attempted to stop the vehicle, with my emergency lights. The vehicle slowed onto the right shoulder of the ramp, then drove away from the stop at a high rate of speed,” Gillett said. “I then activated my emergency siren and advised dispatch I was pursuing.”
He said the chase reached speeds at 110 miles per hour on I-29.
The rear passenger, identified in court documents as Stout allegedly threw items out of the window during the pursuit. A syringe which tested positive for methamphetamines was recovered by authorities.
Gillett said the chase went onto State Route T, almost hit another vehicle that had the right of way and then onto several county roads, through the main street of Amazonia, back onto State Route T then turned into a private driveway on State Route K where the vehicle then hit concrete and an old fence.
“All the occupants in the vehicle attempted to flee on foot,” Gillett said. “All that time a white female was getting out of the rear of the driver’s side of the suspect vehicle and I pushed her to the ground and the driver was attempted to open his door. I Pulled my duty weapon out and pushed the driver’s door shut and told the driver and the other occupants to get their hands up.”
Gillett said several other officers arrived to assist.
Duncan is being held in the Andrew County Jail without bail, Stout is being held on $30,000 bail.