Missouri man charged after allegedly stealing Mustang, leading police chase through Perryville school campus

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) — A Missouri man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he stole a vehicle from a Perryville dealership and led officers on a pursuit that ended on the Perry County School District 32 campus.

According to the Perryville Police Department, officers were dispatched around 12:32 p.m. July 20 to Bening Ford, 909 S. Perryville Blvd., after receiving a report that a vehicle had been stolen from the dealership.

Investigators said Shane Omar James, 39, of Lesterville, walked onto the lot, got into a 2024 Ford Mustang with the keys inside and drove away south toward Interstate 55.

According to police, officers spotted the Mustang about three minutes later near West St. Joseph Street and Pine Street and attempted a traffic stop. James allegedly refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit through downtown Perryville, south on Main Street and onto the Perry County School District 32 campus.

Police said James drove through school property before stopping and surrendering to officers. He was taken into custody and transported to the Perry County Joint Justice Center.

On July 21, the Perry County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged James with:

• Aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, a Class D felony.
• Tampering with a motor vehicle, a Class D felony.
• First-degree property damage to a motor vehicle with intent to steal, a Class D felony.
• First-degree property damage, a Class E felony.

According to police, a judge issued a no-bond warrant, and James remains in custody pending a bond hearing.

James is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.