Man charged with assault after allegedly crashing into deputy’s patrol vehicle
PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Laquey, Missouri, man was charged with several felonies after allegedly intentionally ramming his vehicle in a Pulaski County deputy’s patrol vehicle on Thursday.
Justin Gentry, 33, was charged with three counts of first-degree assault, resisting arrest and two counts of first-degree property damage. A warrant was issued and a $500,000 bond was set. A court date has not been set. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office said on its social media that Gentry is being held at its jail.
According to the probable cause statement, a caller told the Pulaski County Communication Center that that a vehicle with no plates was seen at Devil’s Elbow Bridge. The caller allegedly said a man – later identified as Gentry -- looked like he was intoxicated took off and left a woman lying in the middle of a road after standing over her.
The caller had allegedly followed the vehicle with their hazard lights on, and law enforcement began following. One deputy allegedly stopped the vehicle at Highway 28 and Route Z. Gentry then allegedly put his vehicle in reverse and slammed it in the law enforcement vehicle. Gentry then allegedly drove into a ditch.
The deputy then allegedly pulled out his gun and issued commands to Gentry, the statement says. Gentry then allegedly tried driving at the deputy, but didn’t hit him. The statement says the deputy hit the passenger window, but did not describe the manner in which contact was made.
The deputy had said in an interview with law enforcement that he performed a pit maneuver in order to get the vehicle to stop in the ditch.
The vehicle then sped off on eastbound Interstate 44. Phelps County deputies later arrested Gentry, according to the department. No injuries were reported. The crash allegedly cause $6,339.94 in damage to the patrol vehicle.
The woman had allegedly told law enforcement that she and Gentry went for a drive due to being stressed and wanted to look at lights. The woman first noticed a silver Jeep parked at Devil’s Elbow Bridge before it left and a red Jeep drove by. Gentry allegedly got mad and left the woman. The person in the red Jeep -- the caller -- had asked her if she was OK and she said "yes," according to the statement.
