Festus and Crystal City police are seeking a driver who ran away from officers after getting pulled over Monday morning (Aug. 1).
The incident began at 8:02 a.m., when the suspect, “a younger, white male,” was driving a Jeep Cherokee on Ninth Street at Vine Street in Festus, said Sgt. Doug Wendel of the Festus Police Department.
“Our officer tried to stop him for having the wrong plates on the car – the plates were not registered to the car,” Wendel said. “The officer tried to pull him over, but the driver refused to stop. The driver just drove a block or two in Festus before going into Crystal City. We did not pursue, but relayed the information to Crystal City.”
Then, Crystal City officers spotted the Jeep in the 400 block of Jefferson Avenue and pulled it over. At that point, it was being driven by a 32-year-old Farmington woman and contained two passengers.
Crystal City Police Chief Chad Helms said the Jeep’s occupants claimed the man who had been driving the car in Festus had gotten out in Crystal City before the vehicle was stopped.
The 32-year-old Farmington woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. She was booked by Crystal City Police and released pending application for warrants.
The other occupants of the vehicle were released at the scene without charges. Officers canvassed the area but did not find the suspect.
Helms said Tuesday (Aug. 2) the incident is still under investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crystal City Police at 636-937-4601 or Festus Police at 636-937-3646.