Fugitive eludes Cape police after chase

A fugitive remains at large after leading Cape Girardeau police on a chase Saturday afternoon.

Police Sgt. Joey Hann said the incident began at 3:40 p.m., when police stopped Jason Michael Jungers, 31, for having expired license plates.

The plates, from 2004, were found to belong to another vehicle, not the black 1996 Chevrolet Blazer Jungers was driving.

Upon identifying Jungers, police found a Cape Girardeau County warrant for driving with a revoked license and vehicle theft.

Jungers did not comply with an officer's instruction to exit the vehicle. The officer then opened the car door, at which time Jungers put the vehicle in gear and "stepped on the gas," Hann said.

"The officer had to jump back from the vehicle to avoid being drug by it," he said.

Police pursued Jungers' vehicle, which also contained two passengers.

"At one point after a short pursuit, the driver fled the vehicle on foot into a residential area," Hann said.

The police chase went through the LaCroix Trail woods.

Officers were able to detain the two passengers but not Jungers.

"It's safe to say [the other passengers] are being detained," Hann said, but did not comment further on the two.

Jungers is wanted for the original charges and several new charges in connection with Saturday's incident.

Anyone with information about Jungers may call Cape Girardeau police at (573) 335-6621.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627