A man is behind bars after allegedly stealing a Jeep, running from St. Joseph Police Officers, hitting a vehicle in a parking lot and nearly hitting a shopping cart with at least one child inside.

Timothy Jefferies is charged in Buchanan County with a class-D felony of first-degree tampering with motor vehicle.

According to court documents, around 10:10 a.m. Friday in the 2500 block of Frederick Jefferies is accused of stealing a black Jeep Wranger.

“The vehicle was parked on a city street with the keys in the vehicle.  The suspect later took off from police at 4201 N. Belt (Wal-Mart) and struck a car,” said Det. Greg Ogdahl with the St. Joseph Police Department. “The suspect fled from police and was later taken into custody.”

Ogdahl said Jefferies almost hit a shopping cart that had at least on child in the cart.  Jefferies has over 15 failure to appear warrants from the past.

During his first court appearance Tuesday, Associate Judge Keith Marquart reduced Jefferies’ bail to $10,000 from $25,000 despite objections from prosecutors.  He will be allowed to post $1,000 cash with a $9,000 surety bond. Jeffries said he would apply for a public defender, and Judge Marquart scheduled a counsel status hearing June 16.  A preliminary hearing will be held June 30.