Police seek Poplar Bluff man who allegedly hit convenience store owner during drive-off

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A warrant was issued Wednesday for the arrest of a Poplar Bluff man accused of striking a convenience store owner with his vehicle during an alleged gasoline drive-off.

Tyler Ray Ezell, 18, was charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree assault by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour.

After considering the complaint and probable-cause statement filed with the court, Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth issued a warrant for Ezell's arrest and set his bond at $25,000 cash or surety. Ezell had not been arrested by press time.

The complaint further alleges Ezell struck Shands with a vehicle and dragged him about 25 yards, and such conduct was a "substantial step toward the commission of the crime of attempting to cause serious physical injury" to Shands.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred about 6:20 p.m. Sunday at Shands Country Inn Station on U.S. 67 South.

According to Butler County Deputy Michael Tinker's probable cause statement, Shands reported seeing a white van pull up to a fuel pump and its driver, a white male, later identified as Ezell, begin to pump gasoline.

"Shands stated that he thought the vehicle might have been the same one that had stolen gas" when he had been working on another occasion, Tinker said.

"Shands stated that he went toward the front door of the store and was able to make eye contact with the driver," Tinker said. " ... (He) stated that the male subject finished pumping gas and hung up the hose."

Shands further reported that after pumping $31 in fuel, the man got into the driver's seat, Tinker said.

At that point, Shands reported he "ran outside and got in front of the vehicle to try and stop him from leaving," Tinker said.

Ezell allegedly started the van and put it into drive, Tinker said.

"Shands stated that the driver then hit him with the van," Tinker explained. "[He] stated that he went up onto the hood of the van and slid toward the passenger side.

"Shands stated that when he slid off, he grabbed onto the passenger side view mirror on the van."

Shands, Tinker said, reported being "pulled about 25 yards" before he let go because the van was about to pull onto U.S. 67.

Tinker said the van allegedly fled south on U.S. 67 before then turning east on Highway 158.

Shands, Tinker said, was able to provide deputies with a description of the van, as well as its license plate number, which was registered to a man on Hendrix Street.

As deputies were en route to the Hendrix Street residence, a reserve deputy stopped the vehicle near the intersection of Cole and Neat streets, Tinker said.

The driver, identified as Ezell, reported having left the Hendrix residence, where the van's owner had "gotten out of the van and gone into his home ...," Tinker said.

Due to miscommunication, Tinker said, Ezell subsequently was released.

When deputies contacted the van's owner and his wife, Tinker said, it was learned that Ezell had left in the van at about 4 p.m.

Tinker said a photographic line up was put together of six white males and Shands identified Ezell as the one who allegedly struck him.

The van was towed to the Butler County Justice Center, where it was processed for fingerprints Monday morning by Investigator Tim Davis.