Man faces multiple charges after police chase

A Cape Girardeau man faces multiple charges in connection with a Thursday evening police chase that ended with his arrest at a home on Benton Street.

Jimmy Latray Walker, 18, was charged Friday with unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest, both felonies, and careless and imprudent driving; leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident; and driving while his license was suspended or revoked. All are misdemeanors, according to an arrest warrant filed in the case.

Walker is accused of leaping from a moving vehicle and letting it crash into a parked car while he fled on foot in an apparent attempt to avoid a traffic stop Thursday evening.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Cape Girardeau police surrounded a house at 420 S. Benton St., where they arrested Walker and led him away in handcuffs.

An arrest warrant filed Friday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court states Walker was carrying a concealed handgun, and when an officer tried to arrest him, he "resisted the arrest ... by using or threatening the use of violence or physical force."

Before his arrest, he opened the drivers-side door of the vehicle he was driving and -- while the vehicle was moving at 20 miles per hour -- leapt out, letting it crash into a parked car nearby, the warrant states.

Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said Thursday night that Walker fled after an officer tried to make a routine traffic stop.

After the crash, Walker left the scene on foot, but police caught up to him and arrested him a few minutes later, Hickey said.

The arrest was Walker's second brush with the law in as many months, online court records show.

In March, Walker was released on $25,000 surety bond after being charged with possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest by fleeing, marijuana possession, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, failure to register a motor vehicle and driving with a revoked or suspended license, online court records show.

Last year, Walker pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail, to be served on consecutive weekends, online court records show.

Walker's bond on the new charges was set at $20,000 cash only.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

420 S. Benton St., Cape Girardeau, MO