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.

 

Around 170 babies, and their parents, to park in this year’s Baby Show at the South Side Fall Festival, sponsored by Q Country 92.7.

Here are the list of winners in each of the three age groups.

Birth – 9 Months
Sunshine Smile – Logan Willming (5 months)
Lovable Locks – Dannie Beard (6 months)
Rhasberry Tummy – Nathan Wilkinson Jr. (9 months)
Sweet As Sugar – Nash Logston (3 months)

10 months – 18 months
Sunshine Smile – Maveric Strasser (13 months)
Lovable Locks – Liam Thornton (14 months)
Rhasberry Tummy – Keira Pleickhardt (10 months)
Sweet As Sugar – Owen Rodriguez (12 months)

19 months – 24 months
Sunshine Smile – Harmony Cook (22 months)
Lovable Locks – Madilynn Sigrist (21 months)
Rhasberry Tummy – Parker Ann King (19 months)
Sweet As Sugar – Annistyn Marie Coy (23 months)

Gas prices are dropping in Missouri but prices are a little slower to fall in St. Joseph.

According to AAA the National Average for a gallon or regular unleaded was $2.30. That’s a drop of .6 from a week ago and $1.00 from the same time last year. Missouri’s average was at $2.09, down .4 from a week ago and $1.06 in a year time span. However, St. Joseph’s average was higher than the state’s Friday at $2.19. While St. Joseph showed a drop of .10 in a week the trend looked to lag slightly behind the state’s drop. In fact, the cheapest metro in the state to buy gas on average Friday was Springfield with an average of $2.01.

Gas prices are looking to fall under the $2 mark. As of Sept. 14 three southern states had already posted averages below $2. Those included South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama. It’s the first time that three states had averages below $2 since February.

AAA said gas prices remain much cheaper than last year due to the relatively low price of crude oil with drivers saving an average of $1.06 per gallon compared to a year ago.

Barring any unexpected disruptions in supply or spikes in the price of crude oil, AAA said the national average is expected to keep moving lower as we head into the fall. Pump prices typically decline during this time of year due to lower driving demand after the busy summer driving season and the changeover to cheaper to produce winter-blend gasoline, which took place in many parts of the country on September 16.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Contractors working with the Missouri Department of Transportation plan to close several on and off ramps on northbound Interstate 29 through St. Joseph starting tonight.

All work will begin after 6 p.m. and all ramps should reopen by 6 a.m. the next morning. The planned schedule of closures is:

Saturday, Sept. 19

From eastbound U.S. Route 36 to northbound I-29
From northbound I-29 to eastbound U.S. Route 36 (Exit 46)

Sunday, Sept. 20

From westbound U.S. Route 36 to northbound I-29
From northbound I-29 to westbound U.S. Route 36 (Exit 46)

Monday, Sept. 21

6 p.m. to approximately midnight

From northbound I-29 to northbound I-229 (Exit 43)
From southbound I-229 to northbound I-29
Approximately midnight to 6 a.m.

From northbound I-29 to U.S. Route 169 (Exit 44)
From U.S. Route 169 to northbound I-29
Tuesday, Sept. 22

6 p.m. to approximately midnight

From northbound I-29 to U.S. Route 169 (Exit 50)
From U.S. Route 169 to northbound I-29
Approximately midnight to 6 a.m.

From northbound I-29 to Route 6 (Frederick – Exit 47)
From Route 6 (Frederick) to northbound I-29

MoDOT said all motorists should be alert and follow all construction signs and message boards. All work is weather permitting and schedules are subject to change.

The South Side Fall Festival kicks off Friday at Hyde Park.   Tens of thousands of people flock to the family-friendly festival each year.

The fireworks are Friday night starting at 9:15.

The theme for this year’s parade is “Wild, Wild West!”  The parade is Saturday starting at 10am.

The Q Country 92.7 Baby Show takes place at the large gazebo Sunday, at 1:00 PM.  (Registration takes place at the White tent at the East entrance to the festival grounds.  tonight from 6:00-8:00 PM and tomorrow from 1:00-5:00 PM)

The Special Response Team arrested four subjects early Thursday morning during a standoff in the 2200 block of South 11th Street.

Police Sergeant James Langston says the incident began at 9:30 Wednesday night when officers attempted to serve warrants at the residence.  SRT negotiators went to work and were able to talk some of the occupants into coming out.  Others remained inside.

Sergeant Langston says the incident ended between 1:30 and 2 am Thursday when officers entered the residence and found two more suspects hiding.

No shots were fired.  No injuries were reported.  The investigation that led to the warrants continues.

A St. Joseph man was injured in a late morning crash Wednesday in the South End.

A 58-year-old was injured after crashing a 1966 Ford Mustang on King Hill Ave. near Lake around 10:30 a.m.

“He just pulled out of Bill’s Auto Repair here, hit the accelerator rather hard, lost control of his vehicle, when it crossed the road, hit the embankment, hit the utility pole and rolled his vehicle,” said Scott Gary, Traffic Officer with the St. Joseph Police Department.

He said the man was taken by Ambulance to Mosaic Life Care for treatment but appeared to be doing okay.

“He’s got some lacerations to his arm,” Gary said. “But all things considered he’s in decent shape.”

Police directed traffic at King Hill and Lake for a short period of time while crews worked the accident.

Gary said the man will be issued several tickets.

 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Contractors working with the Missouri Department of Transportation plan to close several on and off ramps on northbound Interstate 29 through St. Joseph beginning Saturday, Sept. 19.

All work will begin after 6 p.m. and all ramps should reopen by 6 a.m. the next morning. The planned schedule of closures is:

Saturday, Sept. 19

From eastbound U.S. Route 36 to northbound I-29
From northbound I-29 to eastbound U.S. Route 36 (Exit 46)

Sunday, Sept. 20

From westbound U.S. Route 36 to northbound I-29
From northbound I-29 to westbound U.S. Route 36 (Exit 46)

Monday, Sept. 21

6 p.m. to approximately midnight

From northbound I-29 to northbound I-229 (Exit 43)
From southbound I-229 to northbound I-29
Approximately midnight to 6 a.m.

From northbound I-29 to U.S. Route 169 (Exit 44)
From U.S. Route 169 to northbound I-29

Tuesday, Sept. 22

6 p.m. to approximately midnight

From northbound I-29 to U.S. Route 169 (Exit 50)
From U.S. Route 169 to northbound I-29
Approximately midnight to 6 a.m.

From northbound I-29 to Route 6 (Frederick – Exit 47)
From Route 6 (Frederick) to northbound I-29

Beau Musser could be the Saint Joseph School District’s last Chief Financial Officer.

Musser announced his resignation last week, saying private sector work is a better fit for his skillset.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Newhart says Musser’s departure will bring the CFO position to an end.

“I am positive the board will not bring back the CFO position,” Newhart said.

Newhart said Musser’s unexpected resignation creates a new opportunity to reorganize the administration.  He said he has asked staff to develop a job description for a Chief Administrative Officer who would oversee the departments of finance, operations, and human resources.

Newhart said the reorganization would improve efficiency and save taxpayer money.