Man accused of crashing car while drunk into apartment fence during chase with law enforcement

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with several felonies after he was accused of crashing his Jeep into an apartment’s fence during a chase with law enforcement while he was drunk on Thursday morning.

Darrell Grimes, 29, was charged with illegal gun possession, armed criminal action, driving while intoxicated, aggravated fleeing and leaving the scene of an accident that caused more than $1,000 in damage. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was held Thursday afternoon.

According to the probable cause statement, Grimes was seen in his Jeep Compass in the intersection at Stadium Boulevard and West Ash Street around 2:30 a.m. The Jeep was not moving while it was in the intersection, but then took off very fast, the statement says.

A Boone County sheriff’s deputy followed the vehicle as it turned on Bernadette Drive from Ash Street and went north to Worley Street, the statement says. Grimes allegedly turned into the Pizza Hut parking lot and drove the wrong way through the drive-thru, the statement says.

The vehicle went south on Bernadette and eventually turned west on Ash Street, the statement says. The Jeep then hit a metal fence for the Courtyard Apartments and continued on to drive through the parking lots of two complexes: Heather Ridge Apartments and Ash Street Place, the statement says. The chase hit 60 miles per hour at one point, court documents say.

The Jeep eventually crashed on Stadium Boulevard near Buckner Street, court documents say. Grimes’ blood alcohol content was .175, more than twice the legal limit to drive, court documents say.

Court documents say Grimes was also on supervised probation. Law enforcement also found a gun in his Jeep, the statement says.