ST. CHARLES, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A St. Louis man who police saw walking to his car with about $500 worth of allegedly stolen Red Bull energy drinks, led officers on a pursuit where speeds topped 120 mph on Thursday in St. Charles County.
St. Charles County prosecutors have charged Anthony C. Simpson, 33, with felony aggravated fleeing a traffic stop, as well as stealing and driving while revoked, both misdemeanors. He is confined in the St. Charles County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.
According to an O’Fallon Police probable cause statement, officers were looking for Simpson on active warrants and were familiar with his prior stealing patterns, which apparently consisted of stealing Red Bull from local supermarkets.
“Simpson has been previously convicted of stealing three other times,” police said in the statement. “It should be noted that within the last thirty days, Simpson would go to Schnucks and Dierbergs and steal Red Bulls throughout the St. Louis Region.”
On Thursday, officers positively identified Simpson walking to his car with a loaded shopping cart of Red Bull at the Schnucks at Dardenne Crossing in O’Fallon. Police said he passed all points of sale with the cart of energy drinks, valued at $500.
Police activated their lights and sirens and drove to the suspect’s vehicle to arrest him on suspicion of theft and active warrants. Simpson took off, nearly crashing into a police cruiser and a sedan entering the parking lot, the statement reads.
Simpson then led police on a pursuit onto Highway 364, a multi-lane thoroughfare. According to the statement the pursuit reached speeds of 120 mph, ass Simpson weaved in and out of traffic and drove on the shoulder of the highway.
At the intersection of Highway 364 and Motorhead Road, police say Simpson lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete barrier. He then refused to get out of the vehicle until police fired pepper balls at him, according to the statement.
“All resistance then ceased,” the statement reads.
Copyright 2024 KMOV. All rights reserved.