Man faces charges after chase

LILBOURN - An assault led to a pursuit through much of New Madrid County Thursday evening, ending with the arrest of one individual.

According to a spokesman with the Lilbourn Police Department, an officer was called to Grady's Trailer Court Thursday evening to investigate an assault. The officer interviewed the victim, who had been struck several times in the face. The victim stated three individuals had beaten and attempted to rob him.

Later officers received a report that one of the three suspects had assaulted two family members and stolen a truck.

About 9:30 p.m. Thursday, an officer with the Portageville Police Department spotted the vehicle and began a pursuit, according to Portageville Police Chief Ronnie Adams. Adams joined the pursuit which took them out of Portageville through Risco and Parma. The officers were joined by local police departments, officers from New Madrid County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol.

According to Adams, the suspect was traveling up to 70 miles per hour at times and often on the wrong side of the highway. Approximately four miles south of Highway 60 near Sikeston, shortly after 10 p.m. a patrolman put a tack strip across the road causing the vehicle's tires to deflate and bringing it to a stop. "If it hadn't been for the tack strips someone probably would have gotten hurt," said Adams.

The man was taken into custody and is being held in the New Madrid County Jail pending the filing of formal charges. Adams said at least seven charges will be filed from Portageville in connection with the pursuit.