Liberty, Mo. — A Kansas City man is in custody after leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit through Clay County that included a dangerous turnaround near Excelsior Springs and culminated in a dramatic, armed standoff on Interstate 35 Friday afternoon.
The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Larry M. Finley, 65, with aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle under Missouri’s “Valentine’s Law.” Additional charges are expected to be filed after Finley appears in court later today, June 30.
Suspicious Tags Leads to Stop, Sudden Escape
The incident began around 2:47 p.m. on June 27, when a Clay County deputy attempted to stop a gray Chevrolet Impala traveling northbound on MO-69 Highway near Lightburne Street. The vehicle displayed a visibly faded and possibly fraudulent temporary tag. A records check confirmed the tag expired in early March.
Finley initially pulled over near Nebo Hills Road in Liberty. When the deputy asked for vehicle documentation, Finley reached into a red backpack for what appeared to be a vehicle title. But moments later, he shook his head and refused to comply, then abruptly fled the scene.
Mosby Turnaround Brings Chase Near Excelsior Springs
As Finley fled at speeds nearing 118 mph in a 45-mph zone, he drove north on MO-69 and entered the Pour Boys gas station parking lot in Mosby, just south of Excelsior Springs. Deputies say Finley used the busy lot, located at 22204 MO-69 Hwy, to turn around and re-enter the highway southbound.
From there, Finley continued southbound on MO-69, again exceeding 100 mph, weaving through traffic and running a red light at MO-33. One deputy noted Finley nearly collided with a civilian truck in the intersection.
I-35 Shutdown and Armed Standoff
Authorities deployed tire deflation devices at several points along the route. The Impala struck at least two sets, shredding all four tires before Finley merged onto I-35 southbound, where he continued driving on the rims at about 45 mph.
At mile marker 18.4, Finley briefly stopped and allowed his female passenger to exit the vehicle and sit on the shoulder before continuing to flee. Deputies authorized a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), which stopped Finley’s vehicle in the middle of the southbound lanes of I-35.
Finley then brandished a knife, held it to his neck, and refused to exit the car. Law enforcement shut down I-35 in both directions between Lightburne and Highway 291, causing major traffic disruptions and multiple unrelated crashes.
For nearly two hours, a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer negotiated with Finley by phone. Deputies observed him rifling through the back seat and smoking from a glass pipe during the standoff.
Arrest and Drug Admission
Around 4:50 p.m., after drone surveillance suggested Finley had fallen asleep, deputies moved in. They disarmed him and placed him under arrest without further incident. He was transported to Liberty Hospital for evaluation.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a glass pipe with residue, a digital scale, and a plastic container with a blue lid containing suspected crack cocaine. The passenger told detectives Finley had planned to deliver drugs to a home in Kearney and that both had used crack prior to the stop.
In an interview, Finley admitted the drugs were his and said he had roughly 3.5 grams in the vehicle. He told detectives he fled because he “didn’t want to go back to prison” and “would rather die than go to jail.”
Prior Convictions and Community Risk
Finley has previous felony convictions for drug distribution and stealing and has active warrants with Missouri Probation and Parole and Jackson County.
Prosecutors say Finley endangered the public, his passenger, and officers by initiating a pursuit on a busy Friday afternoon. Finley is currently held without bond for aggravated fleeing a stop or detention. He is scheduled to appear before a judge later today, June 30, 2025, where more charges, including possible drug offenses, are anticipated.
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