High-speed chase yields alcohol-free DWI charge

What started out as a routine traffic stop turned into a two-mile chase for Bloomfield Police Chief Jason Curtman.

A call came in to dispatchers around 3:25 p.m. Wednesday afternoon of a reckless driver heading northbound on Highway 25 between Bloomfield and Dexter.

Curtman was dispatched and was waiting for the suspect. He then pulled out behind the subject and attempted to pull him over, but the truck didn't stop.

The chase began at the junction of E and J Highways and ended approximately 1-1/2 miles north of Bloomfield.

"He got up to over 70 miles per hour," he said. "He was all over the road."

Once the driver decided to pull over he was immediately handcuffed and taken to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department where he was charged with driving while intoxicated.

"Apparently he was under the influence of a large amount of prescription drugs," Curtman said.

The man admitted he had taken a number of medications prescribed to him including Xanax, Loritab and several others.

Curtman was just thankful the chase was ended before anyone was hurt.

"Even prescription medications can get you charged with a DWI," he said. "Just because there's no alcohol in your system doesn't mean you aren't intoxicated."

Corey Noles can be contacted via e-mail at cnoles@dailystatesman.com