A Jefferson City man was taken into custody after theft of a car in Tipton, a police pursuit that began near California in Moniteau County, continued into Cole County County and ended in Jefferson City.
About 3:40 p.m. Thursday, the Moniteau Sheriff's Department was notified of car being stolen from a business parking lot in Tipton, and last seen being driven east on Highway 50. About 15 minutes later, the vehicle was seen by Moniteau County deputies, who began pursuit. The vehicle, reported as a Geo Metro, was reported to have reached speeds of 90 mph as the pursuit continued into Cole County, where it was taken up by the Cole County Sheriff's Department. Two Missouri Highway Patrol units were involved in the pursuit.
Information received about the driver, Daniel Brown, 33, Jefferson City, indicated he was headed to his residence in East Jefferson City. It was reported he and his mother had been in a domestic disturbance earlier in Jefferson City that morning and he was on his way to Kansas City when another domestic occurred. During that domestic, he exited his mother's vehicle in Sedalia, then stole a vehicle in Tipton to come back to Jefferson City on his own.
As the pursuit entered Jefferson City, the Police Department's K-9 Unit joined the pursuit and other officers were directed to limit vehicular traffic by citizens along the potential pursuit route to minimize danger to the public. Brown drove through one set of spike strips and a second strip was deployed, but Brown managed to continue even with his vehicle partially disabled. Brown went from U.S. 50 East to Clark Avenue, then north on Clark to East Miller Street, then north to McCarty Street, where the pursuit continued east to Brown's home.
Information received from the Cole County Sheriff's Department was that Brown had attempted to assault one of their deputies by attempting to ram a pursuing patrol vehicle.
As Brown pulled into the area of his residence, he fled from his vehicle and ran toward another nearby vehicle in an apparent attempt to take that car and flee again. Due to the prior assault attempt and the disregard Brown had for motorists throughout the pursuit, authorities deployed the Police Department's K-9 "Buzz" to apprehend Brown. "Buzz" was able to take Brown down until officers could take him into custody.
During that apprehension, Brown's mother, Patti Bowers, 54, Jefferson City, attempted to assault "Buzz" and was subsequently placed under arrest for interfering with an arrest. Brown was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor wounds and then taken to Cole County Jail. He has been charged in Cole County Circuit Court with Class C Felony tampering with a motor vehicle and Class D Felony resisting arrest by fleeing.