Report of sexual abuse leads to Jefferson City chase

EDITOR'S NOTE: Charges against Jimmy Kenda were dropped after officers learned that the suspect gave a false identity. The suspect's name will be released after formal charges are filed, police say.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A report of a man repeatedly harassing a woman at a gas station kicked off a high-speed pursuit early Friday in Jefferson City.

Jimmy Kenda was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, aggravated fleeing a stop and first-degree harassment, all felonies.

Officers were called to the Break Time at 326 Ellis Blvd. at about 2:45 a.m., where a woman said a man repeatedly made unwanted advances that included touching her and offering to pay her for sex, according to a probable cause statement. The man followed her to the drink station and continued to touch her inappropriately, the victim told police.

Officers soon found the suspect's vehicle at another gas station. An officer began to question Kenda, who took off down Route C at speeds up to 100 mph in heavy rain, the statement says. Kenda crashed at the intersection of Route C and Rock Ridge Road and was arrested, police say.

Kenda was taken to University Hospital with a compound fracture of his leg. He was not in Cole County Jail custody on Friday morning.