Bismarck man who eluded police arrested
PARK HILLS — A Bismarck man eluded police for nearly a week before being arrested Thursday on an assault warrant involving a law enforcement officer.
Zach Clampitt, 23, was arrested at a Motel 6 in St. Louis County.
Also, he and Christopher Bowen, 25, of Bismarck, are charged with second-degree burglary and stealing in Park Hills. Their bond was set at $25,000 each. Bowen was arrested earlier.
Park Hills Police said Clampitt is also wanted for questioning about other crimes they are investigating in the Park Hills area.
Authorities believe Clampitt may have been involved in two altercations in St. Louis and Jefferson counties last week.
Police had urged the public not to approach Clampitt or Bowen if they saw them. Instead immediately contact police.
The St. Francois County charges stem from a man reporting on March 26 that his garage had been burglarized on West Main near Hovis Farm in Park Hills. A four-wheeler, leaf blower, Dewalt Transit and three chainsaws had been stolen.
The victim of the theft put an ad in the Daily Journal offering a reward for the return of the property.
On May 10, a man came forward in hopes of getting the reward and told Park Hills detectives it was Clampitt and Bowen.
Detectives interviewed a man who purchased the three chainsaws, a woman who bought the leaf blower for $250 and a woman who bought the four-wheeler for $550. The detectives took the property back and went to Terre Du Lac to interview Bowen.
Bowen told police that he and Clampitt drove around Park Hills until about 2 a.m. one day and Clampitt stopped at a house. He said they tried to get into the house and then found that the garage was unlocked. They loaded most of the property into a car Clampitt was driving. They sold most of the items the next day.
Clampitt has prior convictions for stealing, assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
Bowen has misdemeanor bad check convictions.
On Friday, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued warrants on Clampitt for one count of assault in the second degree on a law enforcement officer, one count of property damage in the first degree, one count of resisting arrest, one count of resisting a lawful stop and one count of property damage in the second degree. Clampitt is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.
The St. Louis charges stem from a May 19 traffic violation stop by a St. Louis County police officer near Golf Ridge Drive and Golf Ridge Lane. Clampitt drove away, causing damage to a gate located at the Southmoor Apartments. He also rammed the police vehicle, causing the officer to take evasive action to avoid being struck. Clampitt fled the scene but was located on Thursday, at the Motel 6 at 6500 Lindbergh where he was taken into custody.
