An Owensville man was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop and crashing into a parked vehicle on North Walnut.

City marshal Robert Rickerd said patrolman Stephen J. Bryant observed Christopher Alan Cook, 24, exit the Moto-Mart store at 1:26 a.m. Oct. 9 after he was reported to have stolen some nachos. Cook quickly backed a black Cadillac out of a parking space and struck the canopy covering the station’s gas pumps. Bryant turned on his emergency lights and attempted to make a traffic stop.

Bryant’s probable cause statement filed with the application for warrant against Cook noted Cook nearly struck the police car as he backed up and exited the store’s parking lot.

Bryant pursued Cook west on Highway 28 briefly then north onto Walnut. As he crested a hill, Bryant noticed Cook’s vehicle had struck a fire hydrant and wrecked in a yard in the 200 block of North Walnut. The car had struck a vehicle belonging to a neighbor, causing an estimated $7,000 in damage. 

Cook attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended and placed under arrest. A tire from Cook’s car came off and struck a vehicle parked in front of the yard where he crashed, also causing damage.

Cook was taken to the Crawford County Jail in Steelville early Tuesday morning. He requested medical care, according to Rickerd. Owensville police transported him for the Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan on Tuesday morning for a “fit for confinement” medical examination. Rickerd said his officer was returning Cook to the jail around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Police report Cook told them he has prior “open cases” for driving while intoxicated and felony stealing. Cook was charged Tuesday afternoon with a class E felony count alleging property damage and five misdemeanors including DWI, resisting arrest by fleeing, leaving the scene of a crash, stealing under $150, and not having insurance.  Bond was set at $10,000 cash/surety.