Warrant issued for arrest of man who led law enforcement on high speed chase from Carthage to Lamar

(From the Barton County Sheriff's Office)

On 11-11-2017, Barton County Prosecuting Attorney Steven Kaderly issued a warrant for the arrest of Andrew S. Burks, 23, Independence, on charges of resisting lawful stop a class E felony, and for assault first degree a class A felony.

The bond amount on the warrant is $500,000 cash only set by Judge James Nichols. Burks is being held in the Barton County Jail.

Previous News Release

On 11-11-2017, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle on I-49 in Jasper County outside of the Carthage area.

The vehicle failed to stop and a high speed pursuit occurred. The vehicle traveled northbound in excess of 110 mph on I-49 heading toward Barton County with numerous law enforcement officers following.

A deputy with the Barton County Sheriff's Office sustained injuries when he attempted to lay down stop spikes three miles south of Lamar on I-49. The suspect drove his vehicle at the deputy, and that deputy had to leap out of the way landing on the razor sharp needles used to deflate tires of vehicles. (The deputy went to Barton County Memorial Hospital for medical treatment and later was released) The suspect was able to avoid hitting the stop spikes at SW 30th Road and I-49 and continued northbound on I-49.

At the intersection of 160 Highway and I-49, the sheriff was able to get more stop spikes laid out in the roadway. Just north of the intersection, the suspect drove over the spikes laid out and then was involved in a motor vehicle accident where the vehicle he was driving rolled several times in the southbound lane of I-49. The northbound suspect vehicle then struck a southbound vehicle on I-49.

The suspect fled on foot from the accident scene and ran toward Wal-Mart. The sheriff and Officer Will Weiser with the Lamar Police Department pursued the suspect and he was taken into custody without any further incident behind the Lamar Wal-Mart.

At this time a 23-year-old white male has been taken into custody and is being housed at the Barton County Sheriff's Office. The case is being investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Reports will be sent to the Barton County Prosecutor for consideration of filing formal criminal charges. No other individuals were injured in the incident.