Man charged with four felonies after high-speed chase in Maries County

Authorities are looking for a man Monday after a high-speed chase in Mid-Missouri.

37-year-old Chad Cochran, of Salem, was charged in connection to the chase Monday.

Authorities say it happened in the Vichy and Vienna areas.

Deputies apparently started chasing the vehicle after getting reports that Cochran had taken a female subject against her will and was beating her.

Court documents say Cochran started hitting and biting the victim after getting into an argument with her. The documents say Cochran also dug his fingers into the victim’s eyes and strangled her. Cochran is also accused of sexually abusing the victim.

Deputies pulled behind Cochran and a female started screaming for help. Court documents say the woman stopped yelling because she was scared Cochran would kill her. Deputies said the woman was then pulled back into the vehicle.

Deputies said Cochran then drove off at a high rate of speed. Cochran apparently then slammed on his brakes causing the deputy to rear end the fleeing vehicle.

After deputies chased Cochran for several miles north on Highway 63 near Vichy, the deputy forced the fleeing vehicle to travel into the ditch.

Authorities said the deputy’s patrol vehicle was then damaged to the point he could not continue pursuing.

Cochran apparently continued north on Highway 63 at a high rate of speed with two popped tires.

Authorities later found the vehicle off Maries County Road 340 in a corn field. Deputies also located the female hostage with minor injuries. Law enforcement said Cochran evaded law enforcement in a heavily wooded area.

Cochran is now charged with sexual abuse, domestic assault, interfering with an arrest and resisting arrest.

Maries County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Highway Patrol and Missouri Department of Conservation in the incident.

Anyone with information on Cochran’s location should contact local law enforcement.