Chase exceeds 100 mph; Jackson woman apprehended, man not in custody

Editor's note: Police incorrectly identified the male suspect in this case and charges were dropped. Please read this story for more details: http://www.semissourian.com/story/2400171.html

A Cape Girardeau man and Jackson woman led police on a car chase that ran from Cape Girardeau to Scott County, Missouri, on Wednesday, police said.

The Scott County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Douglas D. Benton, 45, with felony resisting arrest, failure to drive on the right side of the road, operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner and failure to yield to emergency vehicles.

A view of the intersection of Highway 333 and Sand Burr Loop on Thursday where passengers from a vehicle involved in a police chase fled on foot in a field near the area Wednesday night.Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian

Courtney D. Trankle, 39, has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, felony resisting arrest and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, according to online court records.

Cape Girardeau police officers identified Trankle riding as a passenger in a vehicle going east on Hopper Road around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Cape Girardeau public-information officer Rich McCall Jr. said Thursday via email.

Officers knew Trankle had a felony arrest warrant for a drug violation and tried to conduct a traffic stop, McCall said, but rather than stopping, the vehicle fled, going south on Mount Auburn Road before taking Interstate 55 south toward Scott County.

According to a probable-cause statement filed in the case by Scott County sheriff’s deputy Brooks Brockmire, police later identified Benton as the driver based on information provided by SEMO Drug Task Force officer Mike Alford, who observed Benton and Trankle enter the vehicle from a residence in Cape Girardeau.

Alford also told officers Trankle had illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia, in addition to the active felony warrant, Brockmire wrote.

Cape Girardeau police, Scott City police and Scott County sheriff’s deputies were all involved at some point in the pursuit, McCall said.

The white Mazda four-door car exited the interstate and began going east on Main Street in Scott City, driving erratically at nearly double the 35 mph posted speed limit, Brockmire wrote.

Benton turned south on Route N, nearly striking an oncoming vehicle near County Road 316, Brockmire wrote.

Benton nearly struck the patrol vehicle of a deputy who was trying to deploy stop sticks near the intersection of Route N and Route E, according to the statement.

The suspect vehicle exceeded 100 mph in a 50 mph zone as Benton fled south on Highway 333 before turning east and coming to a stop in a field near Sand Burr Loop East of Benton, Missouri, Brockmire wrote.

Benton and Trankle then fled on foot, hopping a fence into a horse stable and running south, Brockmire wrote.

Brockmire then saw Trankle throwing items out of her purse before police arrested her, according to the statement.

The statement did not identify the items Trankle threw or say whether they were recovered.

Police established a perimeter around the area and searched for Benton, but were unable to locate him, Brockmire wrote.

As of 1:40 p.m. Thursday, Scott County Jail staff said Benton was not in custody. At 4:45 p.m. Thursday, the online roster of inmates at Scott County Jail did not include Benton.

McCall directed further questions to the Scott County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s representatives did not immediately respond to phone inquiries Thursday.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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