The Platte County man who led police on a two-county high-speed chase last week is now not cooperating with authorities in the Clay County Detention Center.
On Tuesday, June 2, Clay County prosecutors charged defendant Blake Garrett Marshall with the felony of aggravated fleeing, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, and the misdemeanor of trespassing in the first degree.
Marshall
According to court documents, while in custody in Clay County, Marshall has refused to leave his jail cell, forcing the judge to travel to his cell to conduct his arraignment on Monday, June 8. The case was continued until June 16 for a bond hearing. Marshall has pleaded not guilty and will be assigned a public defender.
The charges follow an incident on June 2, where, according to police reports, a Smithville-area resident placed a 911 call to report a break-in. The victim stated that a male suspect was actively trying to force entry into his house. The suspect, later identified as Marshall, abandoned the break-in attempt and fled the scene in an older model black Chevrolet pickup truck alongside a passenger.
Police reports state that minutes later, Clay County dispatch received a second 911 call from an anonymous caller acting like an emotionally disturbed individual, claiming there were gunshots and demanding FBI and SWAT responses. Dispatch used intelligence software to trace the calling number back to Marshall.
Smithville Police Department officers located the vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 92 near Highway169 and conducted a traffic stop at Sunny’s gas station. After initially pulling over, Marshall allegedly refused to show identification and then accelerated out of the parking lot, prompting a multi-agency vehicle pursuit.
According to the probable cause statement, the driver continued to elude officers for several miles, executing dangerous U-turns across double-yellow lines on Hwys. 169 and 92. During the flight, Marshall allegedly nearly struck a stopped Dodge Durango, drove the wrong way into northbound traffic on Hwy. 169, and briefly entered oncoming traffic lanes on Hwy. 92. Police reports state Marshall accelerated his vehicle to speeds between 110 MPH and 120 MPH in a 55 MPH zone, drifting across the two-lane road and forcing an innocent motorist completely off the roadway onto the shoulder.
The chase crossed the Clay County line into Platte County and ended at Tiffany Springs Parkway, where officers forced the truck off the road as Marshall allegedly attempted to drive the wrong way onto I-29. The defendant was then taken into custody by Smithville Police Department, Platte County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The court issued an arrest warrant and set the bond at $75,000.
“We are grateful that no one was seriously injured, but this is a stark reminder that police pursuits place officers, innocent motorists, and the public at tremendous risk,” said Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson. “It is only by the professionalism of our law enforcement partners and good fortune that this chase did not end in tragedy,”
This remains an ongoing investigation; current charges may be escalated, and additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.