Boone County Sheriff’s deputy assaulted, two suspects arrested

A Boone County Sheriff’s deputy was assaulted Friday night after responding to an animal complaint that turned into an attack and short chase.

Around 7:50 p.m., the deputy responded to the animal complaint near Rippeto Road and Easley River Road, which is southwest of Columbia, near the Missouri River.

As he was investigating the complaint, he encountered two subjects who were driving in the area. The deputy says the passenger, Patricia Basurto, 49, of Ashland, was sitting on the roof of the car while it was being driven slowly by Rex Barstow, 35, also of Ashland.

The deputy stopped the car to speak with the couple and discovered Barstow was intoxicated, had a revoked driver’s license, failed to register the car, had license plates belong to another person, and had no vehicle insurance.

The deputy arrested Barstow and placed him in his patrol vehicle, but the man asked for an item from his car before being taken to jail. When the deputy askedBasurto where the item was, she allegedly smacked him on the hand. The deputy then placedBasurto in handcuffs.

Barstow then started to kick the window of the patrol vehicle and broke the glass. Officials say Barstow tried to exit the vehicle and started to assault the deputy, breaking the deputy’s watch and causing a minor laceration to the deputy’s ear.

During the assault, Basurto fled from the scene, but a K-9 unit tracked her and found her hiding a short distance away.

Barstow was arrested on numerous charges including assault on a law enforcement officer, property damage, driving while intoxicated (chronic offender), attempt to escape from custody, failure to register his vehicle, driving with a revoked license and for a probation/parole violation. His total bond has not been set.

Basurto was arrested for assault on a law enforcement officers and resisting arrest with a bond of $1,000.

The deputy did not seek medical attention.