Columbia man arrested at Midway scene not part of federal case

MIDWAY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man arrested Tuesday morning at a Midway police scene was not part of a federal insurance fraud case.

"It was quickly determined that he was not the wanted person it was originally believed he was," Columbia Police Department spokesman Jeff Pitts said.

Ronald D. Thornton, 29, of Columbia, was booked into the Boone County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest and delivery of a controlled substance Tuesday night, according to online records.

Pitts said officers started chasing Thronton around 8:50 a.m. in the 6400 block of W. Highway 40.

The chase was handed over to the Boone County Sheriff's deputies who followed Thornton into the 8400 block of W. Trails West Drive, Pitts said.

Thornton ran into a residence in the area, he eventually came outside 17 minutes later, police say.

According to jail records, Thornton's bail was set at $8,000 but he has since bonded out of custody.

Multiple local policing agencies responded to the scene, including agents with the FBI and ATF.

A federal indictment including 66 charges of insurance fraud against 19 defendants living around Kansas City and Columbia was unsealed Tuesday. Officials say the scheme defrauded an insurance company of at least $1.2 million.

It's unclear if police are still looking for people charged in the case.