Colby Dennis Smith, 25, of St. Peters has been charged for allegedly stealing a motor vehicle and resisting arrest after reportedly leading Eureka Police on a high-speed chase on I-44 that ended in Valley Park. The incident began about 1 p.m. June 16, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported.
Smith was charged June 17 and was being held that day at the St. Louis County Jail on a $25,000 bond. Eureka Police also issued Smith a summons to appear in Eureka Municipal Court for alleged driving while intoxicated-drugs, Capt. David Wilson said.
Smith allegedly was seen tampering with vehicles on the Six Flags parking lot, 4900 Six Flags Road, and then later at the Holiday Inn Six Flags parking lot, 4901 Six Flags Road. When police arrived at Holiday Inn, Smith allegedly ran away, headed up the I-44 exit ramp and crossed the interstate, Eureka Police reported.
He then went to the Circle K gas station, 18181 Hwy. 66, where he reportedly attempted to steal a parked car. However, the person in the car refused to get out of the vehicle. Smith then went up to a 2003 Ford F-150 at one of the pumps and allegedly wrestled with the driver before pushing him away and stealing the pickup, the report said.
Officers arrived at the gas station as Smith allegedly was stealing the pickup and attempted to use a taser on him. However, Smith was able to drive away, and he allegedly ran over the pickup owner’s foot while fleeing the gas station, according to the report.
Smith reportedly led police on a high-speed chase on I-44 and other roads between Eureka and Valley Park, at times driving in the wrong way on the interstate. Smith attempted to exit eastbound I-44 at Hwy. 141, but the pickup went over spike strips St. Louis County Police had set out, and the pickup crashed into a tractor-trailer, the report said.
Smith was injured in the crash, but no other injuries were reported.
Smith was arrested and transported to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur. While at the hospital, he allegedly told authorities he had taken Xanax, other unknown pills and “ate some dope,” Wilson said.
St. Louis County Police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted Eureka Police during the pursuit.