Scott County jury finds Caruthersville man guilty of multiple felonies

BENTON, Mo. – A Caruthersville man was found guilty by a jury on Friday on multiple felony charges obtained in a 2017 vehicle pursuit with police in Scott County.

Barry McClanahan, 51, of Caruthersville was convicted on Friday of felony resisting arrest, felony driving while revoked, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, property damage in the second degree and careless and imprudent driving for events occurring on Aug. 21, 2017, in Chaffee, according to a news release from Scott County Prosecutor Paul R. Boyd.

Boyd and Assistant Prosecutor Tamara Carlson represented the state. Judge David Dolan presided over the jury trial. The jury was out approximately hour hour before returning guilty verdicts on all counts.

On Aug. 21, 2017, McClanahan was pursued into Chaffee from Cape Girardeau by two Cape Girardeau police officers who were attempting to stop the vehicle on suspicion of theft from Menards. As the vehicle came into Chaffee on route M at a high rate of speed, Chaffee Officers Reagan and Lyerla began pursuit to stop the vehicle. The vehicle continued on Main Street in Chaffee and blew through the stop sign, turning right at Yoakum and Main into the opposite lane of traffic. In doing so, the vehicle almost struck Chief Jim Chambers who was southbound in the 100 block of Yoakum. The defendant continued North on Yoakum toward Park Circle, turning right onto Third Street. The defendant continued to travel North on Third to Dame Street, running through all stop signs. The defendant turned left on Dame and ended up wrecking the vehicle at 507 Dame St., bailing out of the vehicle and running into the corn and soybean fields to the north and northeast. Officers from Chaffee, Cape Girardeau, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Scott County Sheriff’s Office began to search for McClanahan. The search was called off after about two hours.

Chaffee Officer Heath Orr came upon McClanahan on Route M about four hours after the crash. McClanahan was asking for water. Initially, McClanahan said his name was Jimmy. However, Orr had McClanahan’s Department of Revenue photo.Once confronted, McClanahan finally admitted his identity and stated his current status was due to some issue with Menards. This fact confirmed that he was the one evading the officers. After he waived his right to remain silent, McClanahan admitted he ran because his license was revoked and again mentioned his problem with Menards. The vehicle he was driving belonged to his mother.

At trial, Chambers and officers Orr, Lyerla and Reagan testified for the state. The defendant did not offer any evidence.

Sentencing is set for Jan. 10, 2019. The defendant is a prior and persistent felony offender. He faces up to 14 years as a maximum sentence on the felony charges.