A Nebraska man’s crime spree came to a dramatic end on Saturday in Clay County, Missouri, following a rapid series of events that showcased effective interagency cooperation and the decisive action of a sheriff’s office canine. Timothy M. Miller, 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, is now in custody, facing charges of tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing, with a bond set at $40,000.
The sequence of events began around 2 p.m. on February 4, when an elderly woman, residing alone near H Highway and Crockett Road southwest of Excelsior Springs, alerted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office to an unfamiliar vehicle in her driveway. She reported seeing a man exit the car and run behind her house. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle had recently been stolen from Nebraska.
As deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Excelsior Springs Police Department converged on the scene, they received additional reports of suspicious activity. A man was seen walking oddly along Cameron Road, and shortly after, a truck was reported stolen from a nearby location where the owners had witnessed their vehicle being driven away while they were inside their barn.
The search for the suspect escalated as the Kansas City Missouri Police joined the hunt for the fugitive. Using their helicopter KCPD spotted the stolen truck exiting from Highway 92 to southbound Interstate 35 in Kearney. A pursuit ensued, with Kearney Police initiating the chase before handing off to Clay County Sheriff’s deputies and a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper at the city limits. The law enforcement team successfully deployed Stop Sticks, deflating the truck’s tires and bringing it to a halt by the exit to Highway 152.
Miller abandoned the disabled truck and attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly pursued by deputies, including a canine named Duke. Duke apprehended the suspect in the median of the highway, effectively bringing an end to the brief but intense crime spree. Miller was treated at an area hospital for a dog bite before being booked into the Clay County Detention Center.
The sequence of events began around 2 p.m. on February 4, when an elderly woman, residing alone near H Highway and Crockett Road southwest of Excelsior Springs, alerted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office to an unfamiliar vehicle in her driveway. She reported seeing a man exit the car and run behind her house. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle had recently been stolen from Nebraska.
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!
