Austin Michael Stafford, 28, of Pevely was recently arrested on charges of allegedly fleeing attempted traffic stops by Arnold and Pevely police officers. He was driving with a revoked license at the time, according to court documents.
Stafford was arrested Dec. 31, and as of Monday, he was being held on a $50,000 bond at the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro, court records show.
He has been charged with aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, a class D felony; and driving with a revoked license, a class E felony. However, the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has requested the fleeing charge to be considered a class C felony, punishable by three to 10 years in prison, and the driving with a revoked license charge be considered a class D felony, which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison, due to Stafford being a prior and persistent offender, court documents said.
Stafford was found guilty of second-degree burglary and stealing a motor vehicle in July 2024 in Jefferson County. He also was convicted of driving with a revoked license at least five times between April 2023 and December 2024, according to court records.
According to the probable-cause statement filed by a Pevely Police officer, Stafford on Oct. 24, 2025, failed to stop for an Arnold Police officer. The Pevely Police officer then saw Stafford exit southbound I-55 onto eastbound Hwy Z, turned on his patrol vehicle’s emergency equipment and tried to stop Stafford.
Stafford drove back onto southbound I-55 after seeing the officer, and he allegedly sped through the interstate’s construction zone while dangerously passing other vehicles, the report said.