Joplin man leads police on car chase, then foot chase before being apprehended by K9 officer

(From the Joplin Police Department)

Incident Spotlight

Yesterday evening at 7:14 p.m one of our officers tried to stop a vehicle at 4th and McKinley.

The vehicle, a Ford Tempo, was driving with no headlights and didn't use a turn signal. The officer thought the driver might be impaired. The vehicle also matched the description of a suspect vehicle in a robbery that had been reported to us. 

The vehicle refused to stop and began driving at high rates of speed, all over the road. Officers pursued the vehicle west to Schifferdecker, North to Belle Center, West to State Line, and then North on State Line. The driver turned around and went back south on State Line before turning around and going back North on State Line again. He eventually came back east on Belle Center and at Scotch Pine Lane he jumped out and ran on foot. 

A K9 had joined in the pursuit. When the driver ran, the dog was released and apprehended the driver as he ran into a dark field. 

The 35-year-old Joplin man was taken into custody for felony resisting arrest, driving while revoked, improper plates, careless driving and a slew of other traffic violations.