Authorities led on multi-county chase early Thursday morning

UPDATE 8/26 9:15 a.m. :Authorities are telling ABC17 that the man wanted in this chase is Travis W. Crutchfield, 36. He is still on the run.

Before deputies gave chase in Thursday morning’s high speed pursuit, they had to consider several factors in just a few quick seconds.

They’ll have a few seconds to consider their options, but experts said that’s what they’re trained to do. Usually, they’ll think about who the suspect is first.

“If it’s a minor infraction and we know who the person is, we’re really not going to chase him,” said Detective Tom O’Sullivan with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.

Thursday morning’s suspect had a laundry list of warrants and deputies were already looking out for him, O’Sullivan said.

Besides thinking about who the suspect is and what crime they have committed, law enforcement thinks about things like road conditions.

“You also have to determine the amount of traffic that’s out there, the weather conditions or the type of road you’re on whether it’s a two lane road or a four lane road,” said Lt. Paul Reinsch with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

O’Sullivan said since Thursday morning’s traffic stop turned high speed pursuit happened early when there were no cars on the road, it was easier to decide to initiate a chase.

“[There] was light traffic, dry roadway, and the risk to the public was significantly less than if it would have been say, 5:00 in the afternoon,” said O’Sullivan.

Law enforcement stresses that the number one thing it thinks about is public safety. If a chase will put the public in danger, they won’t initiate. But if the suspect could be a harm to the community, law enforcement will initiate a chase.

If someone finds themselves in the middle of a high speed pursuit, law enforcement says they should get out of the way quickly.

“Anytime our motoring public sees an emergency vehicle coming up behind them, they need to move to the right as quickly and as safely as they can and let those officers by,” said Reinsch. “It’s also important if those officers are approaching them from the front to slow down and move over right and give those officers as much room as possible.”

Update 5:42 a.m. – Authorities have confirmed the search is currently suspended for the suspect.

ABC 17 is working to confirm when the search will pick back up.

Update 3:42 a.m. – Multiple law enforcement agencies are searching for the suspect in Audrain County right now. The suspect apparently drove through a cornfield, bailed and took off on foot.

It’s happening around county road 836 and 845 in Audrain County.

Our crew headed to the scene said multiple authorities still set up on I-70 eastbound into Callaway county.

Original- Around 2:30 Thursday morning, reports indicated Boone County authorities were led on a chase.

It apparently started at Southridge Drive as a traffic stop.

The suspect then led authorities onto HH and route Z through Audrain County, Callaway County and then back into Boone County.

Several agencies were involved in the chase.

At 3 a.m. reports indicated spike strips would be used at county road 292 in Boone County.

Stay with ABC 17 News for this developing story.