The Bates City man who led police on a high-speed pursuit across Platte County and injured both a seven-year-old child at a bus stop and the Tracy chief of police has been charged with several counts. He remains in custody in Platte City on $250,000 cash-only bond.
Joshua Joplin, 36, was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, Nov. 2, with a plea of not guilty entered late last week. Joplin told court officials he plans to apply for a public defender. He is charged with resisting arrest and three counts of assault, including an assault on an officer.
The chase kicked off at around 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 at Highway 92 and Interurban Road when a Platte County deputy attempted to pull over the white GMC pickup for missing license plates. The truck fled, reaching above 90 miles per hour on Interurban Road. At Jowler Creek Road, the pickup passed a stopped school bus at a high rate of speed, clipping a 7-year-old child with a trailer. The child was not seriously injured, but the pickup, driven by Joplin, continued on.
According to court documents, the truck blew through the stop sign at Interurban and Highway E at Camden Point, then crossed to Highway 371. A deputy deployed spike strips but the truck avoided them and struck his patrol car, continuing south on Elm Grove Road.
On Elm Grove, Tracy chief of police Frank Thurman suffered two broken wrists when Joplin’s truck struck his patrol car, throwing him 12 feet onto asphalt. Thurman was deploying spike strips on Elm Grove Road in an effort to stop Joplin.
Joplin continued onto Highway 92, passing through Platte City at high speeds and clipping at least three vehicles. He entered the northbound lanes on Interstate 29, headed south into heavy traffic at 90 mph. The truck struck a Chevy Malibu at Interstate 435 and Cookingham Road. The Malibu spun and rolled over, with the driver suffering broken bones.
Joplin continued, crashing the GMC just south of Cookingham. He fled into the trees and climbed a tree. He removed some of his clothing and evaded police for a time until he was located via thermal imaging.
According to court documents, while in custody Joplin vomited and acted delusional, claiming someone else was in the vehicle with him. Deputies said Joplin appeared to be alone in the vehicle during the entire pursuit. The description Joplin gave police for this imaginary driver matched his own description.
Joplin was transported to Liberty Hospital and refused to provide breath or blood samples. A Clay County judge later authorized a blood draw and Joplin was transported to the Platte County Detention Center.
Later, he told police he knew he had a felony probation violation warrant but could not explain why he didn’t stop for police. Joplin also has a revoked driver’s license and a Clay County warrant for forgery.