Two arrested in Gentry County chase
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Three passengers, including two children, suffered minor injuries late Saturday in an attempted Missouri State Highway Patrol traffic stop, which ended in a vehicle pursuit, wreck, and the arrest of two people on Route A in Gentry County a mile north of Evona.
According to a patrol report, Willie R. Morin, 23, Bethany, was driving northbound in a 2002 Ford Explorer with passengers Lacie N. Bever, 32, Worth, and two children, ages 9 and 6.
The patrol report alleged that Morin was exceeding the posted speed limit and failed to yield to a patrol vehicle after a trooper observed him driving in the wrong lane.
Shortly after Morin reportedly attempted to flee with the passengers still in the vehicle, his two front tires were deflated by spikes deployed by officers.
The suspect then allegedly drove the SUV off the left side of the roadway and jumped out of the still-moving vehicle, which crashed into an embankment and overturned onto the driver’s side.
No one inside the Explorer was wearing a seat belt or secured in a child-safety seat, according to the patrol report. Bever and the two children reportedly suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Northwest Medical Center in Albany.
The SUV sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene
Morin and Bever were both taken to the Harrison County jail.
The patrol report stated that Morin was to be charged with speeding, driving on the wrong side of the road, driving without a valid license, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving while intoxicated (drug related), possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to properly secure a child using a seat belt or safety seat, felony resisting arrest by fleeing, felony child endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to wear a seat belt.
According to authorities, he remained in custody Monday on $30,000 bond.
Bever, authorities reported, was being held on $15,000 bond and faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony child endangerment, and failure to wear a seat belt.
Patrol Cpl. J.M. Cross was assisted during the pursuit and subsequent arrests by Lt. W.S. Sims, Sgt. M.A. Ott, Trooper M.D. Obert, Trooper J.E. Hainey, Recruit M.W. Neely, and personnel from the Gentry County Sheriff’s Office.
