Authorities continue to search for several people suspected of stealing a car in the Hillsboro area, breaking into vehicles in the Pevely area and taking a shot at a victim they encountered in the Pevely area. The incidents occurred overnight between July 12 and July 13.
Both the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Pevely Police Department are investigating, the agencies reported Friday (July 24).
Authorities said a 2015 Ford Focus was stolen July 12 from outside a home in the 9700 block of County Ridge Lane in the Hillsboro area and was seen around 4:40 a.m. July 13 on Persimmon Point Drive outside of Pevely.
“A guy (on Persimmon Point Drive) up early for work saw the door of his car open in his garage and saw a second of his cars with the door open in his driveway,” Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said. “He then saw people in a Ford Focus across the street. The dome light was on. He walked up the street to see what was happening. He saw the car go down Persimmon Point. He said the driver got out and pointed a gun and supposedly fired a shot at him. He was not shot.”
The man told police there were two or three people in the car.
He said police discovered the Ford Focus had been stolen while investigating the Persimmon Point Drive incident.
Pevely Police Capt. Larry Miller said a Pevely officer spotted the Ford Focus at about 5:05 a.m. as it was traveling east on Hwy. Z with the occupants matching the dispatch information. He also saw a second vehicle, a 2018 to 2020 blue Buick Regal thought to have been involved in a July 7 incident in the Pevely area.
“As the vehicles passed the I-55 Motor Plaza, located at 1707 Hwy. Z, the Buick crossed the center line into oncoming traffic,” Miller said. “The Buick returned to the eastbound lane and both it and the Ford began accelerating, at which time the officer activated his emergency equipment. Both the Buick and the Ford failed to yield to lights and sirens.
“Both the Buick and the Ford continued east on Hwy. Z, passing through the intersection of Hwy. Z and southbound I-55, while it had a steady red signal. Both the Buick and the Ford continued east, before making a left-hand turn onto the northbound entrance ramp to I-55. Due to safety, the pursuit was terminated.”
Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 636-797-5515 or the Pevely Police at 636-475-4498.