De Soto Police have identified a suspect who allegedly was driving a car that left the roadway early Thursday morning (March 17) and damaged several vehicles at the Auto Plaza Ford dealership in De Soto.
“We have a suspect and we are working to locate him,” Police Chief Rick Draper reported Thursday evening (March 17).
Auto Plaza is offering a $500 reward for anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest, the report said.
Someone was driving a 2001 Ford Escort ZX2 north on Hwy. 21 at about 2:30 a.m. when the car left the roadway, crashed through a gate on the dealership lot at 12836 Hwy. 21, and then left the scene, Draper said.
Five vehicles were damaged in the incident. An estimate for damage had not been determined, Draper said.
The driver left the area and did not report the accident. A piece of the vehicle driven by the suspect, however, was left behind, and police used it to identify a suspect.
Police also have made an appeal on its Facebook page for the suspect to turn himself in.
“The part that was left behind by the vehicle involved in the hit and run at Auto Plaza had a VIN (vehicle identification number) on it; we have a name and we have an employer. Our plea is this, contact our agency at 636-586-8891 or turn yourself in at 17 Boyd Street De Soto, Mo., 63020 or expect a visit at work,” the Facebook post said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the De Soto Police at (636) 586-8891.