Sikeston man seeks change of venue

PLAINFIELD, Ind. -- An 18-year-old Sikeston, Missouri, man charged with murder in the traffic death of Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith has requested a change of venue for his upcoming trial, online court records show.

The request on July 18 seeks to move the trial of Eddie Jones of Sikeston to another county or to bring a jury in from another county, news outlets reported.

Jones also is charged with auto theft and resisting law enforcement.

Jones is accused of driving a stolen vehicle and leading police on a chase that killed Smith on June 28 as he was trying to deploy stop sticks on Ronald Reagan Parkway, north of Interstate 70 in Plainfield, state police have said.

Smith, 33, of Franklin, Indiana, died after being taken to an Indianapolis hospital.