January 9th, 2026 Local News
St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - On Thursday, January 8, 2026, just before midnight, the Bonne Terre Police Department was involved in a high-speed vehicle pursuit that began on northbound U.S. Highway 67.
According to police, an officer attempted to stop a vehicle after observing a traffic violation. The officer’s attention had initially been drawn to the vehicle due to suspicious behavior by its occupants at a local convenience store. The vehicle refused to stop and continued north at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, eventually crossing into Jefferson County.
The fleeing vehicle, described as a tan Chrysler Sebring with Illinois license plates, performed a U-turn just north of Flucom Road and headed southbound on U.S. Highway 67. It then exited onto Highway V, traveling west for a short distance before leaving the roadway and driving between two houses and residential yards. The pursuing officer was forced to break off the chase due to rough terrain.
A subsequent search located the suspect vehicle in the Valle Lake subdivision off Highway V in rural Jefferson County. With assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, officers conducted an area canvas and deployed a K-9 track, but the suspect was not found and remains at large.
Investigators believe the suspect has been identified and is wanted on felony probation violation warrants. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Bonne Terre Police Department.