BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Puxico man is in the Stoddard County Jail after initially eluding authorities Oct. 2 near his hometown. His arraignment was continued until 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9
Robert LeRoy Clark, 32, was recently apprehended and faces charges of resisting attest and probation violation. He had been charged previously with child neglect as well. It was later confirmed Butler County had an active warrant posted for his arrest. He was on probation there having been charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Sgt. Travis Stafford with the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office first approached Clark on the night of Oct. 2 shortly before 11 p.m. when while on patrol, he observed a Jeep Cherokee parked near a shop building at State Highway 51 and County Road 284 in rural Puxico. Stafford had been by the building previously that night and had not seen the vehicle parked there at that time. He observed two male subjects in the Jeep, which had both seats reclined.
Stafford recognized Clark and asked him to exit the Jeep. Clark complied and sat for a short time in the passenger seat of the patrol vehicle while being questioned. Stafford asked Clark if there were any active warrants out for his arrest, to which he responded, "No, but I'm probably going to jail."
Stafford proceeded to run a computer check on Clark from his patrol unit, and as he did, Clark reportedly again stated, "I'm going to jail," and jumped from the patrol car and fled, in spite of several commands from Stafford to stop.
Clark was chased on foot by Stafford as he ran north on Highway 51 and onto County Road 291, eventually crossing onto private property and through a field. Stafford reported he lost sight of Clark after he entered a tree line west of County Road 291.
In spite of further efforts by Stafford, the Highway Patrol and Puxico Police officers, Clark was not found that night.
Clark is now in the Stoddard County Jail under a combined $10,000 bond on the charges of resisting arrest and child neglect. There is no bond set for the probation violation at this time.