105-MPH Chase Goes Through Bloomsdale, Ste. Gen.
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FROM STAFF REPORTS
Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Department and Ste. Genevieve Police Department personnel were led on a high-speed chase through the county late Friday night.
In the end, Dakota Ketcherside, a 21-year-old Festus man, was arrested on 15 charges, including aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, kidnapping and various driving offenses, after crashing just south of Ste. Genevieve.
Two Sheriff’s Department vehicles suffered minor damage during the pursuit.
The pursuit began when a deputy passed Ketcherside on US 61 near Holst Road, in a white 2020 Dodge Ram with no license plates. The deputy turned around and followed the Dodge Ram, which seemed to speed up. It then turned its headlights off near Missouri Avenue. The deputy then turned on lights and siren and caught up with the Ram just inside Bloomsdale city limits.
Ketcherside blew through Bloomsdale, according to probable cause documents,traveling at 105 miles per hour through a 45-miles per hour zone. Near Mimosa Road, he moved into the left to pass another southbound vehicle.
He did not slow down or brake at all, passing the Route O intersection, where two more deputies joined the pursuit.
According to the report, Ketcherside entered Ste. Genevieve city limits and “blew through” the 61/Rozier Street and 61/32 stoplights without slowing, then made a left turn into a bean field just south of town. He then continued on a set of railroad tracks.
In trying to pursue, one vehicle became stuck in a ditch, hidden by high grass, while another vehicle was “highcentered” on the tracks and unable to continue.
The Ram crashed on the west side of 61, near the Jaycee hall. An ambulance was called.
Ketcherside was cuffed and taken to the hospital.
Two female passengers were also injured and taken to the hospital. Both said they tried to convince Ketcherside to pull over when the pursuit began. Ketcherside confirmed this.
He told officers he was “just being stupid.”
Ketcherside said the Dodge Ram belonged to his employers. At first he claimed to have permission to use it, but later admitted that he did not. Persaonnel at his place of work confirmed that he did not have authorization to take the vehicle.