What started as a late-night parking-lot takeover at a north St. Louis gas station turned into a high-speed headache for police early Sunday, ending with three arrests, a near-miss with an officer, an infant in the back seat, and a rifle pulled from the car, authorities said.
Officers were called to the gas station on Hall Street near Gimblin Street around 1 a.m. as drivers and spectators took over the lot, according to police. When officers began clearing vehicles, the driver of a silver Ford Focus took off. The pursuit wound through north St. Louis and ended near Adelaide Avenue and Interstate 70 after the suspect vehicle swerved toward an officer who was laying spike strips, forcing the officer to jump out of the way, police said.
Inside the car, officers found an 8-month-old child, who was handed over to a guardian at the scene. Police say they also recovered a short-barreled rifle with an extended magazine and a foregrip from the vehicle, which was towed as evidence.
How the chase unfolded
According to First Alert 4, detectives at the Hall Street gas station spotted the silver Ford Focus driving recklessly while officers were trying to break up the takeover. They attempted a traffic stop, but the driver kept going southbound on Hall Street instead.
Police identified the driver as a woman from Hazelwood. During the chase, investigators say she turned the car toward an officer who was deploying spike strips, narrowly missing him. The pursuit ended near Adelaide Avenue and I-70, where officers arrested the driver along with two adult passengers, according to First Alert 4.
The outlet also reports that the 8-month-old was inside the vehicle at the time of the pursuit and that officers recovered the short-barreled rifle with an extended magazine and foregrip before towing the car as evidence.
City crackdown on takeovers
The arrests land in the middle of a broader city crackdown on illegal street takeovers and late-night crowds. In early July, the City of St. Louis rolled out an overnight juvenile curfew covering Downtown and Downtown West as part of a larger push to rein in after-hours trouble, according to the City of St. Louis.
That follows previous operations where police have leaned on spike strips and other tactics to break up stunt-driving events. During one such enforcement effort, officers used spike strips to disable about 50 vehicles tied to reported street takeovers, Police1 reported.
What happens next
Detectives are still processing evidence from the scene while the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office reviews the case for possible charges. Police say they will release the suspects' names after charges are filed.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has video is asked to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department or call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
