Two Jefferson County men were arrested following the theft of a utility vehicle from a Park Hills business and a high-speed chase from St. Francois County to Jefferson County, authorities reported.
Park Hills Police Chief Richard McFarland said the men were arrested today (Oct. 6).
He said he didn’t know the men’s ages or where they lived in Jefferson County.
One of the men was arrested near Hwy. 67 and Meyer Road southwest of Festus after he allegedly tried to flee from police in a pickup, and another man was found near the intersection of Hwy. P and Hwy. 8 in Desloge.
The UTV was reported stolen from Leadbelt Powersports, 1400 Woodlawn Drive, in Farmington, and as of today, it had not been recovered, McFarland said.
The chief said he did not know the make and model or year of the UTV, or the make and model of the pickup.
Park Hills Police got a call about the theft at 6:50 a.m. today, and officers found a pickup parked near the business. When the officer approached the pickup, the driver sped off, traveling north on Hwy. 67, McFarland said.
Desloge and Bonne Terre police, along with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers, helped during the chase, which reached speeds of more than 100 mph, McFarland said.
A Highway Patrol officer laid spike strips on Meyer Road to stop the pickup. After the pickup went over the spikes, the man ran from officers, McFarland said.
A Sheriff’s Office tracking dog named Kane was brought to the scene to help find the suspect, and the dog tracked down the man. Deputies detained the man until Park Hills Police arrested him, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said.
McFarland said the man was arrested at about 8 a.m. today.
The Park Hills Police chief said a large amount of narcotics allegedly was found in the pickup.
McFarland said the man officers arrested in Desloge is suspected of stealing the UTV. That man was arrested at 11:40 a.m. today, the chief said.
McFarland said Park Hills Police will seek charges for resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia against the man who led officers on the chase. He said the police will seek stealing charges against both men, if the UTV can be recovered.