Last Tuesday evening, Nov. 26, a blue 2003 Chevrolet Venture van was stolen from Fifth Street in Gerald.
Gerald Police Chief Jim Helton says the van was left on the street while the owner went …
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Last Tuesday evening, Nov. 26, a blue 2003 Chevrolet Venture van was stolen from Fifth Street in Gerald.
Gerald Police Chief Jim Helton says the van was left on the street while the owner went inside Certified Auto Repair. While inside, the owner noticed the van being driven away.
Gerald Police were immediately notified and they in turn notified the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Steve Pelton noted that a GPS unit inside the van allowed it to be tracked in real time. Information from the unit showed the van to be traveling east on U. S. Highway 50 toward Union. A deputy spotted the vehicle on the highway and attempted a traffic stop. The driver took off at speeds well over the posted speed limit, Pelton says.
The driver traveled the side streets of Union before making his way back onto the highway.
By this time, several law enforcement vehicles were in pursuit as the van traveled east toward I-44.
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers set up a controlled tire deflation device near East Denmark Road. One tire was successfully deflated, but the driver continued traveling east onto I-44. The van eventually stopped near mile marker 247 where two subjects were taken into custody.
Brian M. Thrasher, 30, of Gerald admitted to stealing the vehicle to drive to St. Louis to buy heroin. An unidentified 36-year-old female was also taken into custody.
Charges were applied for with the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and a warrant was issued.
Thrasher was charged with felony stealing a motor vehicle and felony resisting arrest. His bond was set at $25,000 cash only.