Joplin Police arrest man in stolen Newton County car with stolen Monett license plates, reaching for stolen Carl Junction gun

(From the Joplin Police Department)

Incident Spotlight

Yesterday at 1:01 p.m. officers were dispatched to 2300 South Maiden Lane, Doc’s Stop Gas Station, for a tip about a stolen vehicle being at a gas pump getting gas. 

Officers arrived and saw the stolen 2005 Toyota Tacoma at a gas pump. An officer pulled up in front of the vehicle, boxing it in, and gave the driver commands. The driver reversed into a pole and a parked car. He then turned around and was digging in the rear floorboard, ignoring the officer’s commands. 

The male and a female eventually both got out of the vehicle and were arrested. The truck proved to be stolen out of Newton County. The license plates on it were stolen out of Monett. Where the driver was reaching was a handgun stolen out of Carl Junction. 

The driver was arrested for tampering with a motor vehicle, felony resisting, felon in possession of a firearm and other charges. The female passenger was also arrested.