Four cases involving vehicle pursuits were filed late last month in Platte County Circuit Court.
Willie Wright, 29, of Kansas City, Shawn Herron, 27, of Kansas City, Donald Eichelberger, 19, of Kansas City and Alton Johnson, 49, of Leavenworth all face at minimum a felony charge of resisting a lawful stop among other infractions.
Herron faces two felony charges and a Class A misdemeanor of driving while suspended after a pursuit on Thursday, March 22. In addition to resisting charge Herron faces a Class D felony for assault in the second degree after a passenger in his vehicle suffered life-threatening injuries following a collision with a bystander’s vehicle which ended the pursuit.
According to court documents a trooper with the Missouri Highway Patrol attempted to initiate a stop on the vehicle Herron was driving on Interstate 29 near Barry Road. Herron allegedly stopped in the middle of traffic and the trooper instructed him to pull to the shoulder at which point he sped off over the posted speed limit. Herron exited at NW 72nd street and ran a stop sign, causing a crash with a passing motorist. Herro’s vehicle went through the intersection and flipped end over end, ejecting the passenger through the sunroof and the vehicle eventually coming to rest on top of the passenger. Herron and the other driver each suffered moderate injuries in the crash.
Alton Johnson
Johnson faces two felony counts after his arrest, with drugs alleged to have been found in the vehicle. According to the probable cause statement the Platte City Police Department responded to Price Chopper after a tip from Atchison County, Kan., dispatch that a wanted party was at the store on Wednesday, March 21. Officers and deputies with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop Johnson but he fled south on Interstate 29. Johnson was eventually apprehended near Interstate 635 after a pursuit which reached speeds of 120 miles per hour. Johnson’s vehicle was disabled with spikes and he fled into a wooded area on foot where he was caught. According to court documents marijuana and methamphetamine were found in the vehicle upon a search along with pipes, two scales and two spoons with residue.
Eichelberger faces the sole charge of resisting a stop after a pursuit during the dismissal hours of the Park Hill School District. According to court documents a deputy observed Eichelberger speeding on N. Congress Avenue on Monday, March 26 and he attempted to stop the vehicle which sped up to evade the officer. According to the probable cause statement speeds reached more than 75 miles per hour in the 35 mile an hour zone and Eichelberger tore through at least two lawns to attempt to elude the stop.
Wright’s charges stem from a pursuit on October 5, 2017. A Platte County Sheriff’s Deputy observed Wright driving southbound on Interstate 29 north of Tracy in excess of 110 miles per hour. The deputy pursued and the chase ended near the county line in Northmoor after another deputy was able to disable the vehicle with spikes. Wright faces the felony charge of resisting a lawful stop in addition to misdemeanor charges of exceeding the posted speed limit by 40+ miles per hour a Class B misdemeanor and driving while suspended a Class D offense.