An East St. Louis, Ill., man is in custody after leading area law officers on a vehicle chase on Interstate 55, which ended only with help from a truck driver, according to Hayti Police Chief Paul Sheckell.
Sheckell said that Thursday morning at about 5:55 a.m., Hayti Officers were requested by the Pemiscot County Deputies to attempt to locate a vehicle that had apparently stolen fuel from the Deerfield Travel Center in Steele.
Officers set up on Interstate 55 at the Hayti overpass awaiting the vehicle. A short time later, the vehicle passed officer, who initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle refused to stop.
Officers chased the vehicle northbound along I-55 until they reached the 25-mile marker, where they were assisted by a truck driver, who maneuvered his vehicle in front of the suspect's vehicle, slowing it down and getting the suspect's vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway.
The vehicle, driven by 42-year-old William M. Caldwell, lost traction and stopped on the shoulder of the roadway. Officers conducted a felony stop on the vehicle, with the assistance of Portageville and Caruthersville police officers, and Caldwell was taken into custody without incident.
When a computer check of the car was done, it was found to be stolen from Louisiana. Officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department arrived to assist.
According to the police report, Caldwell was found to be intoxicated and had a revoked Illinois drivers license. He was transported to the Justice Center by officers of the Highway Patrol, where he was charged with driving while intoxicated, tampering with a motor vehicle, failing to yield to emergency lights and sirens involving a pursuit, felony fleeing and resisting arrest involving pursuit.
Caldwell is being held on a $30,000 bond. Other charges are pending.