Police still looking for driver of car

By Kevin Jenkins | May 1, 2014 |

Authorities are still looking for the driver of a vehicle that crashed last week, leaving his wife seriously injured.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department, Dennis Ray Christopher, 40, of Farmington, is still wanted on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident, speeding, and possibly other traffic-related counts.

His wife, Amanda Christopher, was seriously injured in the crash, and is facing possible charges for felony possession of a controlled substance (not marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dennis Christopher was already wanted on unrelated felony warrants. On March 25 he was charged with second-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Authorities have been unable to arrest him on those charges. Bond is set at $50,000.

According to court records, Amanda Christopher told police on Feb. 21 that Dennis was acting strange like he was under the influence of drugs. She said she saw him load his pistol and then walk in her direction. She said she ran but Christopher grabbed her by the head and stuck the barrel of the pistol in her mouth. She swung a hammer and struck Christopher on the side of the head. She got away and called for help.

The traffic accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. April 24 at Busiek School Road east of Route OO southeast of Farmington. The wreck happened when Dennis Christopher, driving at a high rate of speed, skidded across the roadway, traveled off the edge of the road and struck a concrete driveway. The car overturned several times.

He has prior misdemeanor convictions for assault on a law enforcement officer and unlawful possession of a weapon.