Stolen Vehicle Pursuit Spans Three Jurisdictions, Ends in Crash and Arrest in Independence

Excelsior Springs, MO — A high-speed police pursuit that wove through the streets of Excelsior Springs on the afternoon of Saturday, March 22, eventually stretched across two counties and involved multiple law enforcement agencies before ending in Independence with the arrest of 30-year-old Dominic J. Gleason of Independence, Missouri.

The incident began around 4:37 p.m. when the Excelsior Springs Police Department (ESPD) was alerted by a FLOCK license plate reader to a black 2012 Hyundai Elantra with Kansas plates that had been reported stolen. Officers located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver—later identified as Gleason—refused to pull over and fled. An ESPD officer successfully deployed stop sticks, damaging at least one of the vehicle’s tires.

Despite the damage, Gleason continued driving and reportedly later lost a tire near Liberty, forcing him to travel on a rim. Once the vehicle exited Excelsior Springs city limits, ESPD handed off the pursuit to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. The Kansas City Missouri Police Department’s helicopter also provided aerial support throughout the chase.

Gleason eventually crossed into Jackson County, prompting Clay County deputies to transfer the pursuit to the Independence Police Department (IPD), which resumed the chase on the ground while the KCPD helicopter continued tracking the vehicle overhead.

According to a probable cause statement filed by IPD, officers observed the suspect speeding through intersections and disregarding stop signs. The pursuit included speeds as high as 84 mph and dangerously reckless driving, including traveling in oncoming lanes during a red light. The chase weaved through several Independence neighborhoods before Gleason ditched the vehicle near the 10800 block of E. 23rd Street.

After abandoning the vehicle, Gleason fled on foot but was quickly taken into custody following a short pursuit. The abandoned vehicle continued rolling after Gleason exited, striking a nearby business.

A search conducted at the time of his arrest revealed Gleason had a clear plastic baggie in his pocket containing approximately five grams of what appeared to be methamphetamine, as well as five broken alprazolam pills hidden inside a cigarette pack. The substances were later confirmed using a TruNarc Analyzer.

Gleason faces the following charges from the Independence Police Department:

• Aggravated Fleeing a Stop or Detention (Felony D, RSMo 575.151)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony D, RSMo 579.015)

He is also expected to face additional charges from both the Excelsior Springs Police Department and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to vehicle theft and drug possession, Gleason may be charged under Missouri’s recently enacted “Valentine’s Law,” which makes fleeing law enforcement in a vehicle a felony with a mandatory minimum prison sentence upon conviction.

Lieutenant Ryan Dowdy of ESPD noted that suspects sometimes choose to flee even in broad daylight, believing that officers may terminate a pursuit due to safety concerns. “To them, even one more day of freedom is worth the risk,” Dowdy said.

Luckily, no injuries were reported during the pursuit or arrest.