Late night pursuit ends in crash

The cooperative effort of two local departments helped capture a suspect wanted for alleged crimes over the weekend.

The Farmington Police Department was led on a pursuit early Monday morning at about 12:30 a.m. The Park Hills Police Department had put out a stop and hold on an individual.

Farmington Police Chief Rick Baker said the stop and hold order was for a driver of a 1997 red Dodge Dakota pickup truck. About an hour-and-a-half after the stop and hold was issued Farmington officers were on patrol and spotted a truck matching the description.

“They located what they believed was the suspect vehicle on Henry Street near Park Street,” said Baker. “They saw the vehicle and a short time after that the driver of the truck saw the police car and attempted to elude the patrol vehicle in a pursuit.”

Baker said the truck traveled through a neighborhood and out onto Columbia Street, then headed westbound on Columbia Street to Highway 221 toward Doe Run.

The driver of the truck reportedly made a left on to Hildebrecht, continued on Hildebrecht to Pendleton Road, then made a left onto Cartee Road, another left on Route AA, and then a left on Route H back toward U.S. 67.

“The suspect vehicle attempted to make a sharp right and was unable to negotiate the turn,” said Baker. “Then it traveled off the left side of the roadway and continued to travel across the southbound lane of U.S. 67 and came to rest in the median.”

Baker added that the driver was not wearing a seat belt and received possible injuries to his back and face. He said the driver was treated by EMS at the scene.

“He was transported to Parkland Health Center and then later transported to a hospital in St. Louis,” said Baker. “The Park Hills Police Department was contacted and updated in reference to their stop and hold message and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the suspect vehicle traffic crash.”

Baker said his department will be sending a report to the prosecuting attorney requesting additional charges of resisting arrest, careless and imprudent driving, and numerous other traffic-related charges.

The suspect’s name and additional details regarding the initial crimes in Park Hills are being withheld by that city’s officers pending further investigation. But according to the highway patrol accident report the driver of the wrecked truck was Dennis Leigh, 54, of Farmington. At this time, no charges have been filed. 

Renee Bronaugh is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3617 or rbronaugh@dailyjournalonline.com