18-year-old accused of leading Greene County law enforcement on chase in stolen truck

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A Greenfield man has been charged after leading law enforcement on a chase in Springfield Thursday night.

Vernon Richmond, 18, is charged with aggravated fleeing from stop or detention and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, according to court records.

According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, around 9 p.m., a deputy heard scanner traffic from Springfield police officers about a stolen Dodge pickup truck fleeing from officers.

The deputy then says he was in the area of Kansas Expressway and Division Street when he saw the stolen truck go in front of him. The deputy then began to pursue Richmond, but said the driver did not stop and was driving eastbound on Commercial Street in a careless and reckless manner.

Investigators say the pursuit continued when the truck briefly went the wrong way on a roundabout at the intersection of Commercial and Washington avenues. Moments later, the truck crashed into a ditch on High Street near Washington.

Authorities say Richmond is a known figure to police and has been involved in burglaries, car thefts, illegal narcotics, weapons offenses and resisting law enforcement. When authorities arrested Richmond, he had a gun in his waistband.

Investigators say Richmond had three outstanding warrants from Dade County. Those Dade County charges include theft, tampering and burglary.

Richmond is being held in the Greene County Jail without bond.

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