What started as a routine traffic stop in a Walmart parking lot on Thursday night turned into a brief but chaotic chase through St. Charles neighborhoods, with police saying a 29-year-old driver nearly hit pedestrians and a school bus before bolting on foot and hiding under a vehicle.
Officers later arrested the suspect without further incident after finding him underneath a vehicle on Meyer Drive.
In a public release from the St. Charles Police Department, authorities identified the driver as 29-year-old Domonick Owens. According to the release, officers had tried to stop a white Ford EcoSport in the Walmart lot after St. Louis County authorities flagged it in connection with a felony fleeing incident. The statement, authored by Lt. Daniel Gibbons, says Owens already had active felony warrants for first-degree burglary, stealing over $750 and possession of a controlled substance. A passenger in the vehicle was also arrested on outstanding warrants, the department added.
How the pursuit unfolded
Police say officers attempted the traffic stop at the Walmart parking lot when the Ford EcoSport took off. The vehicle sped through the area near S. Old Highway 94 and Meyer Drive, allegedly driving recklessly through nearby neighborhoods.
The chase ended when the vehicle reached a dead end in the 1500 block of S. Old Highway 94 and the driver ran away on foot. Officers began searching the area and, a short distance away in the 1600 block of Meyer Drive, found Owens hiding beneath a vehicle and took him into custody.
Arrest and charges
According to the department, the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed a charge of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, a class D felony, and set bond at $20,000 cash only on that count. Police say Owens was booked on the new charge as well as the active warrants that were already on his record.
Despite the close calls with pedestrians and a school bus, the release notes there were no reported injuries tied to the incident.
Police response and public safety
The St. Charles Police Department said multiple law enforcement agencies responded to assist during the pursuit and its aftermath, and the department expressed appreciation for that backup.
Officers used the incident as a reminder of how quickly high-speed or reckless driving can put people in danger, especially in residential areas and near school buses. The department said the rapid containment of the situation helped prevent anyone from getting hurt. Investigators did not release additional details about the passenger or the outstanding warrants mentioned in the initial report.
What happens next
The case will now move through the St. Charles County court system, where prosecutors will proceed with formal filings and the court will schedule hearings. Under Missouri law, a conviction on a class D felony can carry prison time and fines, and any developments in the case are expected to appear in future court records and official police updates.
