Sheriff's Pursuit of Stolen Vehicles Ends with PIT Stop in Excelsior Springs

Excelsior Springs awoke to the sounds of sirens blaring as a Ray County Sheriff’s Deputy and Excelsior Springs Police teamed up to apprehend a suspect in a stolen car chase. At approximately 6:20 AM a vehicle was reported stolen from the Shell gas station in Richmond, MO. Moments later the stolen vehicle was spotted by Ray County Sheriff’s Deputy, Jason Young, as the stolen vehicle was traveling west on 10 Highway. Deputy Young says he activated his lights and sirens and began pursuit. It was at this point he said he realized there were actually two vehicles fleeing together. Ray County was able to radio ahead and at approximately 6:30 AM Excelsior Springs Police successfully deployed stop sticks near the intersection of 10 and Y Highways. The fleeing vehicles continued despite their deflated tires through the downtown, past Elms Boulevard, eventually turning south onto St. Louis Avenue.

Deputy Young said as the suspect vehicle fled down St. Louis Avenue it “came dangerously close to crashing into a school bus.” It was at this point, according to Young, that the vehicles were in a more open area, clear of residences and other vehicles, so he used a PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) maneuver to stop the reported stolen vehicle. (See video for examples of PIT maneuvers). Shortly after performing the PIT maneuver the vehicle that had been reported stolen came to a stop near the intersection of Baker Lane and Curtis Avenue and the suspect attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by Deputy Young. The second vehicle continued further down the road before crashing into a ditch near the intersection of St. Louis Avenue and Seybold Road, near Inn on Crescent Lake. The second suspect also fled on foot but was not apprehended.

A YouTube video shows examples of the Pursuit Intervention Technique, PIT

When reached for comment ESPD Police Chief, Gregory Dull, corroborated the report Given by Sheriff Deputy Young stating:

On 01/21/22 at approximately 6:30 AM, members of the Ray CO Sheriff’s Department pursued two vehicles into ES; both vehicles were stolen, one of which was in the process of being reported when it was observed by a deputy sheriff. Members of the ESPD assisted Ray CO with apprehending the driver of one of the vehicles, who had fled from the vehicle on foot. The other vehicle was also located but the driver was not.

Deputy Young said both vehicles were stolen, one from Richmond and the second from the Kansas City Metro area. Both vehicles were four-door sedans described by Young as “your average daily drivers.” Clay County is in the process of writing the probable cause statement and sending it to the prosecutor, so no official charges have been filed at this time. Be sure to check our weekly police reports published here on ExcelsiorCitizen.com for more details next week.