What likely started as just a domestic assault investigation at a Missouri hotel on May 18 escalated into a high-speed police chase. It even spanned across multiple counties before police were able to apprehend the suspect.
A post by the Joplin Mugshots page revealed that officers were called to a hotel on the 2400 block of Marvel Street in Nevada, Missouri. According to the call, they expected a domestic assault that may involve a firearm.
However, once officers actually arrived on scene, they were witnesses to an active confrontation. They saw as the situation changed and the suspect jumped into a black Chevy Silverado to leave the scene.
Instead of complying with officers and stopping, the suspect continued evading police. Eventually, the chase took to the highway, where officers were in pursuit heading northbound on I-49.
Officers Chase Suspect Through Different Counties
The information released on the Facebook post states that police from the Nevada Police Department and the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office took chase as the Silverado crossed into Bates County. Throughout the chase, officers worked to bring the car to a safe location.
This is when the officers in the Bates County Sheriff’s Office deployed stop sticks just north of Rick Hill by Highway 52. Since this damaged the truck’s tires, it came to a halt and allowed officers to apprehend the suspect.
When in custody, it was revealed that the driver of the Chevy Silverado was 35-year-old Christopher Beverley of Joplin, Missouri. This then led to the officers charging Beverley with a number of offenses.
Suspect Charged With Various Offenses
The Vernon County Prosecutor formally charged Beverley with the following:
- Domestic Assault 2nd Degree — Class D Felony
- Resisting Arrest Creating a Substantial Risk — Class E Felony
- Exceeded Posted Speed Limit — Class C Misdemeanor
- Fail to Stop for Steady Red Signal — Class C Misdemeanor
He is currently being held at the Bates County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond. If convicted of the above, Beverley could face up to 11 years in prison and fines of over $10,000.
However, it is thought that his legal troubles may extend beyond this particular pursuit. It was discovered that Beverley had outstanding warrants from various jurisdictions within both Missouri and Kansas.
That Isn’t the Start of the Suspect’s Legal Troubles
The law enforcement agencies involved credited strong coordination between their departments for safely putting the pursuit to an end. It was emphasized that coordinated efforts helped prevent the situation from becoming a lot worse.
There have not been any injuries reported, and additional details regarding the domestic assault or firearm have not been released. As with all criminal cases, authorities reminded the public that Beverley is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Currently, those involved have posted about the situation on their respective social media profiles. The investigation is still ongoing, according to officials.