Two teenage boys were arrested this morning, March 23, and area law enforcement agencies are searching for two other suspects following a police chase that started in Cape Girardeau County and ended when the suspects’ car crashed on the exit ramp from northbound I-55 to Hwy. 141 in Arnold. After the crash, at least four people got out of the 2018 Volkswagen Passat and ran away, Arnold Police reported.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested at 6:23 a.m. after Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office German shepherd, Fabre, tracked him through a wooded area behind the Bandana’s Bar-B-Q restaurant, 1220 Big Bill Blvd., near the interstate in Arnold. The boy was hiding in a ditch and reportedly refused to come out for deputies, so Fabre was sent in and bit the suspect, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said.
He said the Sheriff’s Office is holding the juvenile this afternoon for the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested at about 9:45 a.m. after he entered a business in the Water Tower Shopping Center near the interstate where the crash occurred. Arnold Police reported that the teenager had asked to use a phone at the business before he was arrested.
The teen was being held this afternoon by Arnold Police, who are working on the case with the Jefferson County Juvenile Office and other agencies, Arnold Police said in a written statement. The statement did not provide a hometown for the arrested teenagers.
Authorities believe two other suspects who fled from the car after the crash were picked up by someone driving a vehicle around Christy Drive, which is near where the fleeing car crashed, Arnold Police said.
Authorities initially reported that they were seeking two women who fled from the scene.
The pursuit began at about 4 a.m. today near Fruitland after multiple vehicle break-ins were reported to the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office, according to its Facebook page. The Facebook post said a witness attempted to follow the car involved in the break-ins but stopped when someone in the fleeing vehicle shot at the witness.
No injuries were reported from the shots fired.
The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office also said Jackson Police received multiple calls about a vehicle break-in believed to be related to the investigation.
After receiving reports about the break-ins, Cape Girardeau deputies began pursuing the fleeing car, and the chase went north on I-55 into Jefferson County.
Crystal City Chief Chad Helms said his officers were not involved in the pursuit, but one of his officers put out spike strips, which damaged two of the tires on the fleeing Passat when it was traveling north on I-55 near Hwy. 67. After driving over the spike strips, the car continued, Helms said.
Arnold Police reported deploying spike strips at 5:08 a.m. on I-55 near the Church Road overpass. The fleeing car ran over the spikes and eventually crashed into a guardrail on the exit ramp.
The Passat was reported stolen out of O’Fallon, and St. Louis Police have linked it to a homicide investigation, according to written statement from the Arnold Police.
That statement also said two guns were found in the crashed car, along with numerous items that investigators believe were stolen.
Arnold Police reported that substances believed to be narcotics also were found in the Passat.
This is a developing story, and more information will be reported when available.