Festus Police responded to a reported fist fight Tuesday (Feb. 23) and ended up arresting one of the alleged combatants who crashed a car while trying to flee the scene by driving in reverse, authorities report.
“We got the call around 12:15 p.m. of a fight with three people – all men – on the Majik Market (103 Walnut St.) parking lot,” Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said. “When we got there, a 20-year-old Hillsboro man was driving his (Toyota Rav4) backwards through the Post Office parking lot. He hit a fire hydrant and tore off a passenger-side door.
“He kept driving, still going backward, hit a fence at Walnut and North Fourth. (The Rav4) was stuck in the fence. We arrested him.”
Lewis said the other two men involved in the fight got away while police were dealing with the suspect who was driving in reverse.
“He was fighting two guys,” Lewis said. “He was fighting one, then the other came out of the store and helped the first one.”
Lewis said the suspect got the worst of the fight, but did not appear to suffer any serious injuries. He said the fire hydrant was not damaged other than some scratch marks.
The suspect was processed and released pending application for warrants, Lewis said.
“We’re going to seek numerous charges – resisting arrest and numerous traffic charges,” he said.