Officer-involved shooting follows pursuit in Cape Girardeau
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
CCAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Cape Girardeau police say officers shot at a suspect early Monday after he drove a vehicle toward officers during a pursuit.
According to a news release from Public Information Officer Bobby Newton, officers with the Cape Girardeau Police Department and deputies with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle around 12:20 a.m. in the 1200 block of South Ellis Street. Officers identified the driver as 34-year-old Clarence Smith of Cape Girardeau and determined he had active warrants for his arrest.
Police said Smith refused commands to exit the vehicle. Officers attempted to remove him from the vehicle, but Smith accelerated, dragging two officers about 10 feet before one officer deployed a Taser.
According to the release, Smith continued driving after the Taser contact broke. Officers pursued him as he committed multiple traffic violations.
Police said Smith entered a closed construction zone on Sprigg Street and became stuck while attempting to turn around. As officers approached on foot, Smith freed the vehicle and drove toward officers.
According to police, officers fired their weapons after Smith drove toward multiple officers, forcing one officer to move behind a vehicle to avoid being struck.
Smith then crashed into a parked vehicle, and officers took him into custody.
Police said Smith suffered a non-life-threatening laceration to his hand and was taken to a local hospital before being transported to the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Department.
No officers were injured. The Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control is conducting an independent investigation at the request of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.
