A drawn-out pursuit that began in Boone County Friday ended in Osage County and resulted in the arrest of an Arnold man.
On Friday, at approximately 3 p.m., a Boone County Sheriff’s Department deputy observed a black Ford Focus parked at the Petro Mart, located at 5612 E. St. Charles Road. The deputy had received information via an automated license plate reader that the registration was linked to Devin Kempa, who had an active warrant from Jefferson County for assault in the first degree. The deputy observed Kempa entering the Ford and the deputy blocked the parked vehicle with his assigned patrol car.
Kempa began backing the Ford up in an attempt to flee. He was ordered to stop, shut off the vehicle and exit the vehicle, but he continued to disregard the commands. Kempa continued in the Ford toward one of the deputies, who had to take evasive action to avoid being struck by Kempa’s vehicle. Kempa then struck a deputy’s patrol vehicle with the Ford and fled the area. Deputies initiated a short vehicle pursuit with Kempa but terminated the pursuit on eastbound Interstate 70 near the Millersburg exit.
Approximately 30 minutes later a Columbia Police Officer located the Ford entering Boone County from the Millersburg area and pursued the vehicle to the Midway area, where BCSD units took over the pursuit. Units lost sight of the Ford and terminated the pursuit at that time; however, members of the Columbia Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department continued to search the area.
A BCSD deputy located the Ford entering eastbound Interstate 70 and pursued it for a short time before again terminating the pursuit. The Ford exited at Stadium Boulevard and struck another vehicle on Ash Street.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol was able to locate the Ford near Scott Boulevard and pursued it, but Kempa was able to elude them as well. Eventually, the Ford was located on Scott Boulevard near Rt. KK, where the Missouri State Highway Patrol helicopter began tracking the vehicle.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol helicopter tracked the car through Callaway County, Cole County, and into Osage County, where MSHP personnel successfully deployed a tire deflation device. Kempa attempted to evade a second tire deflation device, ran off the roadway, and crashed. Kempa, who was uninjured, was taken into custody and found to be in possession of a firearm, a credit card writer, and credit cards that are believed to be stolen.
In addition to the warrant, which included 14 charges, Kempa was arrested on three counts of resisting arrest, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, three counts of careless and imprudent driving, and one count of assault in the third degree (special victim).