Sikeston man faces charges after fleeing arrest, chase

BENTON -- A Sikeston man was arrested on charges stemming from a vehicle pursuit with law enforcement early this week.

Deron Fonsha McClinton, 38, of Sikeston is charged with the class D felony of resisting arrest by fleeing and creating a substantial risk of injury or death to any person, the class A misdemeanor of operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, the class B misdemeanor of exceeding the posted speed limit by 26 miles per hour or more and the class C misdemeanor of failure to stop for a stop sign.

According to a news release from Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, about 6:26 p.m. Tuesday, Deputy John Caudle was traveling south on State Highway BB in Scott County when he observed a vehicle fail to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of State Highway BB and State Highway Y.

Caudle observed that the vehicle seemed to be quickly accelerating away as he attempted to move into position behind it. The deputy checked the speed of the vehicle on radar at 110 miles per hour. As Caudle followed, the vehicle continued to pull away.

The vehicle slowed down as it approached the intersection of State Highway BB and State Highway 114. This allowed the deputy to get close enough to get a good description and to observe that the vehicle -- a black Chevrolet Impala with Missouri license plate -- run another stop sign as it turned onto Highway 114.

Caudle activated his emergency lighting and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle failed to yield and accelerated away with the speed reaching 106 miles per hour.

The vehicle entered the city of Sikeston and continued an attempt to elude the deputy, turning first on Jaycee Street and then onto Lee Street, a dead-end road. The vehicle was slowing near the dead-end and suddenly braked hard.The deputy's vehicle struck the rear of the vehicle which was then pushed in an attempt to pin it against a fence and immobilize it from fleeing further.

For the complete story, see the Friday edition of the Standard Democrat.