Steelville, MO — A high-speed chase that began with a stolen truck in Rolla on June 4 ended with the arrest of Steven L. Terry, 39, after he led officers through multiple Missouri jurisdictions in a dangerous pursuit during rainy weather.
According to a probable cause statement, the Rolla Police Department received a report of a stolen 2014 Chevrolet truck left idling outside a local business. The truck’s owner, identified as A.L., told authorities that a man in a red shirt jumped in and drove off. A phone left inside the truck briefly allowed police to track the vehicle via the Life360 app before the device was discarded near mile marker 195 on Interstate 44.
Soon after, law enforcement located the vehicle near mile marker 207. A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop near mile marker 209, but the driver fled at high speeds, weaving through traffic and ignoring multiple spike strip deployments.
The pursuit escalated with involvement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Cuba Police Department, and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. Speeds reached over 90 mph despite slick roads and limited visibility.
Terry reportedly exited I-44 at the 225-mile marker and began making erratic turns through residential neighborhoods. He briefly stopped at a home on Elmont Road, shouted at a woman outside, then fled again. Officers noted that he returned to the same address several times during the chase.
Despite spike strips damaging a tire, Terry continued driving and ultimately stopped at the Sullivan Homes, where he was taken into custody without incident.
During the arrest, Terry allegedly told police, “I took a bad batch on Sunday and haven’t been right since.” A background check revealed he did not have a valid driver’s license at the time of the incident.
Terry is charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing from detention. He was booked into the Crawford County Jail on a 24-hour hold, with further charges pending.
