Osage County R-2 Schools closed after suspect evades authorities

LINN, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Osage County R-2 School District was closed Wednesday while law enforcement searched for a suspect after a chase across county lines.

According to the Osage County Sherriff's Facebook page, a suspect crashed after a pursuit and got away on Tuesday.

The superintendent shared in a Facebook post that all classes and activities were canceled until further notice out of caution.

The sheriff's office said a pursuit started in Franklin County and went through Gasconade County before entering Osage County where the crash happened.

The suspect crashed near Highway 50 E. and Highway 89 N., which is about two miles from Linn High School. The sheriff's office said in a later Facebook post that the vehicle crashed into a fence and went down a hill before stopping.

Multiple agencies are searching for a man, but two women were arrested, according to the Osage County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office later identified the man as Zachery Wheeler, described as about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds with dark hair. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and jeans.

The district shared information on Tuesday night about the possibility of classes being canceled. The social media post states this will be treated as a snow day.

Classes started for the school year on Tuesday.