Man backs into tree while attempting to flee police

A Jackson man is accused of leading a Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputy on a 60-mile-per-hour chase through Jackson before reaching a dead end, driving through a yard, running into a creek and then backing into a tree.

The deputy arrested Clarence Scott, 57, on Sunday.

Scott faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, resisting a lawful stop and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputy Michael Landreth attempted to stop a white Lincoln Town Car driving without illuminated headlights about 9:30 p.m. at the corner of Rosamund and Corinne streets, Landreth wrote in a probable-cause statement.

The vehicle stopped on Corinne Street, and Landreth left his patrol car, but Scott took off east on Corinne, Landreth wrote.

Scott turned onto Old Cape Road and accelerated to 60 mph, and Landreth decided to terminate his pursuit because of substantial risk to other people, according to the statement.

Scott turned onto Bellevue Street, which dead-ended at a creek, Landreth wrote.

Landreth drove down Bellevue and saw Scott drive north through a yard in the 700 block of Old Cape Road and stop before it ran into the creek, according to the statement.

The Town Car was unable to make it back to the road because of wet grass, and it backed into a tree, Landreth wrote.

Scott left the vehicle and fled on foot toward Jefferson Street, Landreth wrote.

Landreth lost track of Scott after he checked the Town Car for injured occupants, but Scott later was detained by Jackson police on Adams Street, Landreth wrote.

Landreth found a clear pouch in the car containing a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe, according to the statement.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

Rosamund and Corinne streets, Jackson, MO