PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — Press release; Stealing, Assault on Law Enforcement Officer.

Sheriff Stephen Korte reports the following.

On 28 January 2021 at approximately 9:44pm Deputies responded to rural Clarksville for a theft in progress. 2 Deputies plus a Working Dog in a single vehicle located a 2019 white Ram pickup on private property. The occupants were engaged in the theft of walnut trees in a historic cemetery. The Deputies activated their emergency equipment to detain the truck. The truck attempted to ram the patrol vehicle, Deputies followed eventually losing sight of the vehicle. A couple minutes later another Deputy traveling south on highway 79 encountered the truck north bound on 79 with no lights on, traveling at over 120 miles per hour. The Deputy pursued the suspect vehicle eventually loosing the truck in a field off of Pike 245.

The original Deputies relocated the vehicle again on Highway 79 as it was headed south. The vehicle was again traveling in excess of 120 miles per hour. Deputies followed the truck onto Hwy N then to Pike 234. On 234 the truck spun around then rammed the patrol vehicle head on. The truck then headed across a field towards a tree line. The deputies then tried to head off the truck. Deputies were able to get close enough to positively identify the driver as Jesse Callaway, 45 of Troy, MO and passenger James Merlenbach, 53 of O’Fallon, MO. Due to damage to the patrol vehicle, the Deputies could no longer follow.

A short time later the truck was located by a Highway Patrol Trooper near Elsberry. The Trooper attempted to stop the vehicle eventually loosing sight of the truck. The truck was located, wrecked on Brownsmill Road near Winfield Lane. A ground search lead by the Lincoln Sheriff’s Office and assisted by the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the Highway Patrol and Elsberry Police did not locate the suspects.

On 29 January both Callaway and Merlenbach were charged by Pike County Prosecutor Alex Ellison with the following: 2 counts of class A felony of first-degree assault with special victim, class E felony of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, class E felony of resisting arrest/ fleeing, 2 counts of armed criminal action, class D and E property damages, class D felony of stealing, and misdemeanor charges for trespassing, careless and impudent driving involving an accident and exceeding the posted speed limit.  Bond for both were set at $1,000,000 cash only, by Judge Berry.

One of the Deputies in the patrol vehicle that was struck was treated for minor injuries at Pike County Hospital.

As of this release both Callaway and Merlenbach were not in custody and may have fled the state.

All Persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until found guilty by trail or guilty plea.