ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, MO (Show Me Live) – A 31-year-old House Springs man was arrested after a police chase in St. Francois County on March 26th. Sheriff Jeff Crites says one of his deputies attempted a traffic stop on Rouggly Road involving a multi-colored Chevrolet S-10 pickup displaying mismatched out of state plates when the suspect, identified as Rickie E. Wells, attempted to avoid apprehension by “accelerating and ignoring the deputy’s signal to stop.”
A pursuit entailed as Wells continued westbound toward US Highway 67. According to Crites, a second deputy was dispatched who successfully deployed spike strips, deflating the truck’s front passenger tire, ending the pursuit as the vehicle lost control and crasehd into a ditch on Valley Mines School Road. Wells then fled on foot but was quickly detained by a St. Francois County K-9 unit where he was arrested without further incident.
Wells was arrested on an active misdemeanor warrant, with additional charges being requested through the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for Aggravated Fleeing, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and additional traffic offenses.