Vernard Deatherage

     The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office has obtained a felony bench warrant from the Circuit Court for the arrest of 42 year old VERNARD DEATHERAGE of Ava, Missouri after he fled in a vehicle from Sheriff’s Corporal Edward Elliott on Sunday, April 7^th.

     Corporal Elliott made contact with DEATHERAGE on Baxter CR 15 at approximately 1:44 PM on April 7^th when he stopped to check on a vehicle pulled over on the roadside with the hood up, being a 1987 Dodge pickup.  Corporal Elliott made contact with a man who appeared to be in control of the vehicle and asked for identification.  This man gave a name, but he could not produce any type of license or identification card.  As Corporal Elliott was proceeding further in processing the name he had been given, this man closed the hood on the vehicle, entered the vehicle, and then flees from the deputy despite being directed to stop. 

    Corporal Elliott pursued the driver and vehicle East on Baxter CR 15, then North on State Highway 5 toward the Missouri state line.  During the pursuit, the driver was operating the vehicle in a reckless manner, placing other vehicles and drivers in danger.  The pursuit reached a speed of approximately 90 miles per hour.  Missouri law enforcement authorities were contacted.  As per supervisory instruction, Corporal Elliott ended his pursuit when it reached the Missouri line at approximately 1:51 PM, with the driver and vehicle continuing into Ozark County, Missouri.

     The Sheriff’s Office was notified several hours later that the driver of the vehicle had been apprehended in Ozark County, Missouri on multiple Missouri charges.  He was identified as VERNARD DEATHERAGE, and Baxter County Sheriff’s Investigators obtained a bench warrant for the offense of Felony Fleeing with a bond of $10,000.  DEATHERAGE remains in custody in Missouri with a hold place for the Baxter County warrant.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff