A Fulton County fugitive, 30-year-old James Monroe Smith, also known as Jay Smith, captured in Kansas in late August following a lengthy high-speed chase, now faces charges in Missouri.
The West Plains Daily Quill reports Smith is charged in Howell County for allegedly stealing a vehicle in West Plains.
Smith fled from Fulton County Sheriff Al Roork and a deputy in early August touching off a manhunt over two counties.
The Mammoth Spring man is charged in Fulton County with three counts of aggravated assault, first-degree criminal mischief and fleeing following an incident at a home on Asher Road in Fulton County.
Court documents indicate his charges are enhanced because Smith is a habitual offender, with four or more felony convictions.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, based on information from the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force that Smith was transporting three bags of methamphetamine and was armed with a .9mm pistol, Roork and a deputy proceeded to an address on Asher Road near Salem.
As they arrived at the residence, Smith was observed entering a vehicle in the driveway, occupied by a female passenger.
Sheriff Roork parked his patrol car at the entrance to the driveway in an attempt to block Smith from exiting. The sheriff then exited his vehicle and approached Smith’s with his weapon drawn. As he ordered Smith out of his vehicle, the suspect backed his car at a high rate of speed into the sheriff’s unit, pushing it toward the deputy.
Sheriff Roork, fearing for his safety and his deputy’s, fired one round at close range into the door of Smith’s vehicle.
Smith then pulled his car forward, and the deputy circled around the sheriff’s vehicle on foot to assist Roork. The two law officers found themselves in the tightly contained driveway, as Smith again backed his vehicle at a high rate of speed toward them. Sheriff Roork observed the front of Smith’s vehicle strike or come within inches of striking his deputy.
Roork fired a second round at close range into the driver’s door of Smith’s vehicle. Smith managed to exit the driveway at a high rate of sped through a ditch and onto Asher Road. The two officers pursued the suspect at speeds over 90 miles per hour. Sheriff Roork terminated the pursuit after it came close to the Thayer city limits.
The search continued later that day in the Mammoth Spring/Thayer and Oregon County area, with assistance from Baxter County law enforcement, including the department’s helicopter, along with the Arkansas Department of Correction K9 team.
West Plains Police Detective Bryan Brauer reported Aug. 16th a 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck belonging to the West Plains Parks Department was stolen from the Winter Sports Complex on Olden Street.
On Aug. 30th, Brauer received a call from Reno County, Kan. officials informing him Smith was apprehended after a chase lasting about an hour, ending after law enforcement deployed spike strips to stop the vehicle and a brief foot chase. The pickup truck was recovered by Reno County authorities.
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