Suspect fleeing police drowns in floodwater

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- A man drowned in floodwaters Thursday morning near the Dunklin-Butler County border while attempting to escape from police after a high-speed chase.

Rickey G. Lerma, 40, of Risco, Missouri, was pronounced dead at 11 a.m. by Dunklin County Coroner James Powell after Lerma's body was recovered from the St. Francis River near Route DD.

Lerma tried to escape Campbell police officers shortly after 8:15 a.m. by driving through high water on Route DD during a high-speed chase, according to a statement released by officers.

Lerma had felony warrants from Dunklin County and other surrounding counties, officers said.

When his vehicle stalled, Lerma left the vehicle and was seen by officers swimming in a flooded river to a river bank.

It appears law enforcement lost sight of Lerma and used Campbell's police dog, Titus, to track the man.

Members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Dunklin County Sheriff's Department and Butler County Sheriff's Department helped establish a perimeter around the area.

Lerma again was seen swimming in floodwaters, according to the statement.

"The suspect was then ordered repeatedly to the bank, but refused and went under water," the statement said. "The suspect had drowned due to not obeying the commands to come to the bank."

The Missouri Department of Conservation deployed a boat, and law-enforcement personnel recovered Lerma's body.

Campbell police officers first made contact with Lerma in the 700 block of West Martin Avenue while investigating a report of a suspicious person parked in a driveway.

Lerma identified himself to officers as Rick Meese but was unable to provide proof of identification, the report said.

Officers said Lerma was asked to shut off and exit his vehicle. Lerma "slammed the car into drive," drove through the complainant's yard and back onto the roadway, the statement said.

Campbell police pursued Lerma west on West Martin Avenue.

Lerma forced a Dodge Ram pickup off the road, sped through three stop signs and turned onto County Road 228, driving in excess of 80 miles per hour.

When the chase entered Route DD, vehicles were traveling in excess of 90 miles per hour.