January 23rd, 2026 Local News
St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A Wednesday night vehicle pursuit in St. Francois County resulted in the arrest of a Farmington man and the seizure of a large quantity of fentanyl.
According to the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department, the incident began around 9:25 p.m. on November 5, when a deputy responded to a report of a careless driver traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 67 toward Bonne Terre. The deputy located the vehicle, a dark-colored Chevy Blazer missing a wheel and throwing sparks, near the Route K overpass. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit.
Multiple law enforcement agencies joined in and deployed tire deflation devices to slow the vehicle. The pursuit continued until the suspect exited the highway at Leadington, where the SUV came to a stop at the top of the ramp. Officials say the driver continued to resist but was eventually taken into custody. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a significant amount of fentanyl along with U.S. currency.
The suspect has been identified as Joseph Woolford Jr., of Farmington. He was transported to the St. Francois County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
A report has been forwarded to the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for charges.
Agencies assisting in the incident included Bonne Terre Police, Desloge Police, Park Hills Police, Leadington Police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Leadington Fire Department, and St. Francois County EMS.