Felonies in Missouri are broken down into six different classifications, and there are different punishments and crimes that fall under each.
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A multi-county chase early Saturday involved several vehicle thefts and gunfire exchange with officers, according to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 2 a.m. Saturday, Dallas County deputies and Buffalo police officers attempted to apprehend a “wanted felon” at the Eagle Stop Convenience Store at 1212 S. Ash St. in Buffalo, according to a news release.
Officers say the suspect fired shots at approaching officers and stole the vehicle he was in, ramming it into a Buffalo police car and fleeing the scene.
Shots fired, police cars rammed
Officers pursued the suspect, who eventually abandoned the stolen vehicle and stole another in the area of U.S. 65 north of Louisburg, according to the release. The suspect, then in a stolen flatbed truck pulling a trailer, continued to flee officers through Dallas and Polk counties while firing a weapon at them, officers say.
In the area of Highway P and Missouri 64, the suspect forced a Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputy off of the roadway. The pursuit continued into Pleasant Hope then back into Dallas County, where the suspect stopped the stolen vehicle and backed it into a Buffalo Police vehicle. The suspect fled again while continuing to fire shots at the officers, the release says.
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The pursuit continued into Greene County where Greene County deputies became involved. The suspect vehicle, driving south in the northbound lanes became disabled in the area of U.S. 65 near Highway A after the tires were deflated by a Greene County Deputy using stop sticks. The suspect abandoned this stolen truck and then stole a third vehicle at gunpoint from an elderly driver, the release says.
The suspect then fled north on U.S. 65 back into Dallas County and eventually traveled east on Missouri 38, pursued by several agencies. Approximately one mile east of U.S. 65 on Missouri 38, the suspect vehicle pulled into a driveway. At this location, the suspect confronted the officers with a firearm where an exchange of gunfire took place between the suspect and deputies from Dallas and Greene counties. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment. No officers were injured during this event.
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Sheriff’s Critical Incident Team, including deputies from Lawrence and Webster counties, are on scene conducting an investigation. The Dallas County Sheriff and the Buffalo Police Chief are also involved and assisting in this ongoing investigation.
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“This is just another great example of the dangers law enforcement officers face all over this country,” Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott said. “Thankfully, due to the training and skills of these officers and the great working relationships we have with our partner agencies, this dangerous situation was resolved without injury to any innocent party.”
Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice also praised the work of officers.
“I am very proud of the fine work of my deputies and all of the officers who worked together to quickly apprehend this man. I am thankful that no officers or citizens were injured by this dangerous felon before he was apprehended.”
Buffalo Police Chief Rich Wilkinson was thankful for how the agencies worked together.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the excellent cooperation and the great team work and performance of all of the involved officers,” he said. “This situation could have ended tragically but due to the skills of these officers, this suspect was taken into custody and no innocent parties were injured.”
The identity of the suspect has not yet been released.
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