Gasconade County Republican

What originally was going to be a routine traffic stop turned into a whole lot more Monday night in Franklin County on Highway 30 in the area of the Meramec River.

At approximately 9:28 p.m., a Franklin County deputy was working traffic enforcement when a passenger car displaying invalid plates was observed.

Upon an attempt to stop the vehicle by the deputy, the suspecting vehicle fled, traveling from Highway 30 on to Pond Ford Road failing to yield to the deputy.

The suspect driver then attempted to turn around in the roadway which resulted in him backing into the deputy’s patrol car.

After that, the suspect vehicle fled back on to eastbound Highway 30 at a high rate of speed. Other deputies set up road spikes at the intersection of Highways 30 and 47.

However, the suspect continued traveling on Highway 47 south missing the set up road spikes.

Extending the chase, the suspect slowed down to speeds of between 10 and 45 miles per hour. Continuing to flee from authorities, the suspect was driving on both sides of the roadway.

Fearing the safety of oncoming traffic, the pursuing deputy was authorized to conduct a pursuit intervention technique (pit) maneuver with his patrol car to end the pursuit.

Upon performance of the pit maneuver, the suspect vehicle started to spin and eventually came to rest in the roadway.

Taken into custody without further incident was Panfilo John Martinez. He is a 20 year old Hispanic male formerly of De Soto and Sullivan.

Active felony warrants were out for Martinez for Receiving Stolen Property out of Franklin County with a $15,000 bond. He also had active warrants out of Crawford County for property damage and domestic assault with a $500 bond.

After searching the vehicle, deputies located components commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine, two loaded handguns, cash and a significant amount of an unknown powder believed to be crushed ephedrine pills.

The suspect was ultimately transported to the Franklin County Adult Detention Center. He is being held on the active warrants as well as pending formal charges from leading deputies on a high-speed chase and for his vehicle’s contents.