Two arrested after multi-county chase

Two suspects were taken into custody after in a string of incidents that extended from Friday into Saturday morning, which ended in a multi-county vehicle chase on highways, through residential yards and into a field.

A Moniteau County deputy's patrol vehicle was struck in the second of two pursuits of a suspect fleeing in a stolen vehicle. The suspect had reportedly evaded police the previous night by hiding in the woods.

Preston James Cash, 20, of Eldon, and a female suspect were taken into custody in the investigation.

The situation began as a Cooper County Sheriff's Office investigation of a stolen truck at a residence on Baines Lane in Cooper County. The truck was reportedly stolen from Saline County.

Moniteau County deputies assisting in the investigation spotted a vehicle matching the description and attempted to stop the truck. The vehicle fled on Route O, toward West Brush Creek at the end of Baines Lane and into the woods. A female suspect was taken into custody near the vehicle while a male subject, identified as Cash, continued to flee into the woods on foot.

Cash was reported to be armed with a handgun and had outstanding Miller County warrants for possession of a controlled substance. Cash was also wanted for questioning for thefts that occurred in Morgan, Cooper and Moniteau counties; stolen vehicles in Cooper and Saline counties; and a stolen credit card in Tipton.

The vehicle involved in the initial pursuit was recovered and confirmed to be the one reported stolen from Saline County.

A perimeter was established and a search in the woods conducted after officers from Cooper and Moniteau sheriffs departments, Tipton Police Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol arrived. The Highway Patrol Air Unit was called in to assist, but the search was eventually called off due to low visibility.

Early Saturday morning, the Cooper County Sheriff's Office received a report of a man matching the suspect's description attempting to gain entry to a home on Oakland Church Road. Moniteau County deputies were also notified of a subject attempting to enter a Cooper County residence and went to assist.

Before deputies could reach the residence, the suspect reportedly stole a vehicle and fled the area. Deputies began patrolling area roads to locate the vehicle. Shortly after, a Moniteau deputy located the stolen vehicle heading toward Jamestown and attempted to stop it. The vehicle fled into Jamestown, through several yards and fences, before coming to a stop.

The deputy in pursuit exited his patrol vehicle and approached the suspect to bring him into custody. The suspect drove the stolen vehicle into the patrol vehicle's driver's side door before heading north on the Missouri 87 out of Jamestown. No one was injured. The deputy managed to reenter his vehicle and give continue the chase.

The suspect turned into a farm north of Jamestown and drove back to a field where the vehicle came to a stop.

The deputy exited his patrol vehicle and broke the driver's side window as the suspect reached into the backseat. The deputy deployed his Taser and pepper spray before pulling the suspect from the vehicle. Cash was taken into custody and transported to the Moniteau County Sheriff's Office.

He faces several additional charges in Moniteau County for property damage, failure to yield, assault on law enforcement and possession of a stolen vehicle.