What started as a traffic stop over a vulgar license plate turned into a police pursuit through Missouri. The chase ended with a crash, a foot chase, and a taser deployment.
Howell County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Robert Malone attempted to stop a motorcycle on May 24 at 7 p.m. after noticing it was not displaying a valid state-issued license plate. Instead, the motorcycle was displaying a non-state-issued novelty plate that read “RUN THIS” and featured a middle-finger graphic in the center.
Instead of pulling over for the police, the rider sped off and began the pursuit. The chase eventually moved onto Division Drive, where authorities said the rider reached dangerous speeds with children present in the area.
Officials later determined the situation was becoming increasingly risky due to the number of residents nearby. The rider ultimately lost control of the motorcycle, but that did not stop him from attempting to flee on foot.
Rider Speeds Off Instead of Stopping
The motorcyclist was identified as 40-year-old Dustin Knapp of Myrtle. Knapp rode quickly through West Plains before heading north on Highway 63. At several points throughout the chase, Knapp appeared to stop the motorcycle before accelerating again.
The motorcycle pursuit ended when Knapp lost control and crashed, but authorities said he continued attempting to evade police on foot. After a short period of resistance, a taser was used, and Knapp was taken into custody.
Knapp had already been on probation for a different conviction related to driving while his driver’s license was revoked, as well as possession of controlled substances. He was sent to the Howell County Jail, where he is being held on a $25,000 bond along with a separate no-bond warrant issued by Probation and Parole.
What Did His Tag Say?
His tag said “RUN THIS,” with an image of a middle finger between the words. The imagery itself was blurred in the original post because of the obscene gesture.
Authorities described the tag as a non-state-issued plate rather than a valid state-issued registration plate.
As a result of the arrest, formal charges have been issued, including:
Reactions To License Plate and Chase
Various commenters were quick to jump into the comments to leave their opinions, with many condemning the motorcyclist for leading police on a chase to begin with. One person wrote, “I’m not in the habit of making excuses for cops, but it’s reasonable to pull someone over for that. Vulgar or not, it’s not a valid plate. If he hadn’t fled and put others in danger, he might have gotten off with a warning.”
Similarly, another commenter wrote, “Don’t run in Howell County. Very simple. Great job 👏 👍”
Others poked fun at the rider, with another comment saying, “I think his run this tag failed him lol…fool ran on a bike… and on foot and failed 🤣 how tf.”