A man who escaped a Kansas correctional facility and shot at law enforcement officials during a high-speed chase in Platte County has been convicted.
Scott A. Gilbert, 51, was found guilty of ten felonies by a Platte County jury on November 13, 2015.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “This defendant is a dangerous man who put countless people in harm’s way during his brazen attempt to escape from prison. Law enforcement officers from multiple departments demonstrated tremendous courage in apprehending him.“
Evidence at trial showed that Gilbert was traveling in a stolen black 1997 GMC pickup truck that left the McDonald’s in Platte City at about 10:00 am on May 10, 2013. Earlier that morning, Gilbert had escaped from the Lansing, KS Correctional Facility, allegedly with another inmate who was driving the truck.
The officer attempted to pull over the vehicle, but it refused to stop. Instead, the vehicle led several law enforcement officers on a pursuit heading northbound on 1-29 with speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour.
The chase later traveled through several rural highways. During the pursuit, Gilbert fired a shotgun multiple times and struck the vehicles of four different law enforcement officers.
Gilbert and the other inmate eventually made it to rural Clinton County, where they entered an unoccupied residence. Officers from multiple departments, including multiple tactical teams, surrounded the house, and the pair eventually surrendered.
Gilbert has more than 50 prior felonies in the state of Kansas.
Gilbert was convicted of four counts of first degree assault of a law enforcement officer, four counts of armed criminal action, resisting arrest, and tampering with a motor vehicle. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2016 at 1:00 pm. Zahnd said his office would seek multiple life sentences in the case.
“Our law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep the rest of us safe,” Zahnd said. “We owe them a debt of gratitude, and more importantly, we owe them justice when anyone tries to harm them in the line of duty.”
Gilbert remains in the Platte County Jail in lieu of a $5,000,000 cash bond. The other inmate also remains in custody, and his case is scheduled for a jury trial on February 1, 2016.
Gilbert’s apprehension involved officers from the Platte County Sheriff’s Department, the Platte City Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, the Cameron Police Department, and the Trimble Police Department.