A Blackburn man has been detained following a high speed chase in Saline and Lafayette Counties.

According to the probable cause statement filed in Saline County, Saline County Sheriff’s deputy Troy S. Johnston was on patrol in Blackburn when he spotted Mark Edward Jones of Blackburn driving on Main Street. Jones was known to have a warrant and the deputy moved into position behind the Jones vehicle, where he activated lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle continued on without slowing and the driver motioned the deputy around his vehicle.

Knowing Jones had a history of fleeing, as the vehicles approached Jones’ residence, Deputy Johnston maneuvered to the front of the vehicle, slowed and stopped. Jones then put his vehicle in reverse, spun the tires and fled, while Deputy Johnston directed him to stop.

Jones left the scene at a high rate of speed and Deputy Johnston gave chase. Jones fled through town at rates of approximately 70 mph, sometimes losing control of the vehicle and driving through grass and nearly hitting a parked car. He then travelled in a reckless manner west on Hwy 20 into Lafayette County, where he crossed the center line and nearly struck an oncoming vehicle which had taken the shoulder in an effort to get out of the way. Jones reached speeds of 115 mph and continued to weave into the oncoming lane. He slowed in an attempt to enter Alma, but could not make the turn and resumed traveling west. He then turned north on Hwy 23, leaving the roadway as he turned.

As he approached Hwy UU, he attempted to turn east, but lost control of the vehicle and entered a field northeast of the intersection. Deputy Johnston attempted to communicate with Jones via the patrol car’s loudspeaker, but Jones reentered the roadway and continued to flee westward onto Low Branch Road, a gravel roadway. On this gravel road, he was reaching speeds in excess of 70 mph. When he reached the T intersection at Lewis Road, he turned north, rounded a curve and turned north onto Pig Alley. When Pig Alley ended, Jones continued to flee onto the levy. Jones eventually lost control of the vehicle and it spun into mud. Jones then exited and fled on foot. Deputy Johnston continued the pursuit on foot, but he lost sight of the suspect.

That same day, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Higginsville Police Department provided assistance to locate Jones, with the use of a drone and police K-9, but they were unsuccessful.

Jones was later apprehended and charged with Aggravated Fleeing A Stop Or Detention (Felony D). The preliminary hearing has been set for July 1 in Saline County.

As always, all suspects are innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. A mere arrest and/or arrest warrant is only an allegation and nothing more.