WEBB CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Alleged vehicle thieves elude police temporarily

Webb City police officers were called to Range Line Road north of Zora Street at 4:30 p.m. Friday to intercept a stolen vehicle. Following behind the stolen vehicle were its owners.

Police Chief Don Melton reports that his officers were able to get behind the stolen vehicle and tried to get it stopped. 

However, Melton says the suspects fled. The vehicle eventually became disabled on the railroad tracks between Fourth and Fifth streets and Grand Avenue and Murphy Boulevard (east of B&B Discount) in Joplin.

The Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges of tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing against the driver, William S. Thomas, 26, Neosho, and the passenger, Derek P. Smith,35, Joplin.

Saturday, Feb. 5

I was dispatched to Atwoods in reference to shoplifting.

Sunday, Feb. 6

14:15 – I was dispatched to Madison and Fourth streets for a motor vehicle crash.

Friday, Feb. 11

15:38 – Officers were dispatched to 1031 Nelson St. in reference to property damage.

Saturday, Feb. 12

12:00 – Officers were dispatched to McDonald’s in reference to a medical emergency.

13:23 – Officers were dispatched to Walmart in reference to a past-tense shoplifing.

Sunday, Feb. 13

00:14 – While on general patrol, an officer noticed a suspicious vehicle at 923 W. Fourth St. A property damage report was taken.

09:12 – Officers responded to a motor vehicle crash at the roundabout involving two vehicles. No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.

11:16 – Officers were dispatched to Walmart in reference to a credit card fraud scam.

15:10 – A report was created for property damage on a vehicle at Taco Bell.

22:34 – Officers responded to Walmart for a shoplifting. One subject was taken into custody on outstanding arrest warrants.

Monday, Feb. 14

01:00 – Officers responded to 615 W. Daugherty St. for a report of a hit-and-run motor vehicle crash without injury.

17:58 – I took a report of a past-tense two-vehicle non-injury accident near 607 N. Webb St.

20:01 – I was dispatched to Walmart for a theft that had just occurred. Two male subjects and a female fled the store before my arrival but were identified. Citations were mailed for shoplifting to their last known address.

11:46 – Officers were dispatched to the 600 block of N. Madison St. for a disturbance. One juvenile male was detained and transported to the county detention center.

Tuesday, Feb. 15

16:29 – I was dispatched to Madison and Seventh streets for a motor vehicle crash.

Officers were dispatched to 213 N. Hall St. for a disturbance. One subject fled the scene prior to arrival. A summons was issued.

Wednesday, Feb. 16

23:42 – Officers responded to 1304 Mary Lane for a medical emergency.

18:55 – I was dispatched to the intersection of Ball and Galena streets for a non-injury motor vehicle accident.

15:55 – I was contacted at the station in reference to a theft at Walmart. The victim reported he briefly forgot to take his change from self checkout and a man behind him stole his money.

Thursday, Feb. 17

21:00 – Officers responded to a two-vehicle non-injury crash at the roundabout.

Friday, Feb. 18

Officers were dispatched to McDonald’s for a report of property damage.

Saturday, Feb. 19

08:23 – I was dispatched to 314 N. Webb St. Apartment A in reference to a stolen vehicle.

Officers responded to a 911 open-line call that sounded like a male and a female having a disturbance. 911 operators narrowed the location to the 1400 block of E. Fountain Road in Webb City. Officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. As a result of an on-scene investigation one male was arrested.