Police had their hands full when a speeding incident turned into a full-on chase involving Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers, Joplin police, and a Newton County Sheriff’s deputy.
The vehicle chase ended when the driver of the car in question failed to negotiate a curve and crashed into a fence at Faith Tabernacle Church in Joplin after 9 a.m. May 27, KZRG-AM reported.
The driver — 35-year-old Eric Hillstead of Diamond — remained in the car after the crash, the station said. But his passenger — 41-year-old Lenny Turner of Joplin — fled the scene on foot, KZRG said.
And that's when a nearby private citizen got involved.
The citizen blocked Turner’s path, chased him and knocked him to the ground, the station said, adding that the citizen detained Turner until backup units arrived and took the suspect into custody.
And it turns out the citizen had a "personal firearm" on hand, KZRG noted, citing authorities — yet another good guy with a gun.
As you might expect, the pair had a few reasons between them for presumably not wanting anything to do with police that morning.
Hillstead had two Joplin warrants, including one for DWI and one for harassment, the station said, adding that Turner had three Webb City warrants and four failure-to-appear Jasper County warrants.
They also will be charged with resisting arrest, KZRG reported, citing the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. Drug paraphernalia also was found in the car, the station said, adding that both suspects were being held in the Newton County Jail.
No injuries were reported during the incident, KZRG added.
(H/T: Blue Lives Matter)
Dave Urbanski
Sr. Editor, News