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Two arrests stem from pursuit in Bates County
Two people were arrested following a vehicle pursuit Thursday that began in the Rich Hill area and ultimately ended with arrests in Vernon County the following day.
Johnathon S. Howard, 26, was charged in Bates County with resisting arrest by fleeing, with bond set at $7500 cash or surety. Authorities later determined that Howard had recently been released from the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Brent D. Morrison, age unavailable, was charged in Vernon County with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to information from Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson, Bates County deputies were dispatched to Rich Hill to assist the Rich Hill Police Department in a vehicle pursuit, at which point, Rich Hill officers dropped out of the chase.
A few minutes later, the vehicle was seen by a Bates County Deputy and he attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver took off again, Anderson said.
"The pursuit took the deputy west of Rich Hill and lasted approximately 45 minutes," the sheriff said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted in the pursuit and spiked the vehicle tires on Highway V. The vehicle then turned into a private driveway where it crashed into the wooded area behind a residence, Anderson said.
The driver identified as Howard, at that point, ran into the woods sparking a multi-agency search of the area that lasted about two hours before being halted.
On Saturday, Bates County authorities received information from the Vernon County Sheriff's Office that Howard might have been at a house on the north end of their county.
Deputies from Bates and Vernon County sheriff's offices converged on the residence of Brent Morrison, a known associate of Howard, Anderson said, and Howard was taken into custody.
A subsequent search of the residence turned up possible stolen items and weapons Anderson said.
Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher said deputies went to Morrison's residence after learning Howard might be there. Howard was arrested and turned over to Bates County authorities.
Morrison, who also is a registered sex offender, was later taken into custody at a residence in Stotesbury. He was being held Tuesday in the Vernon County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.