'Dangerous felon' has $100K cash only bond, stole car from mortuary

A $100,000 cash only bond has been issued for the suspect in a series of incidents Sunday that include gunshots, and a high speed chase in a vehicle stolen from a mortuary.

Jaquise Arictea Hamblin, 20, of St. Louis was captured at 8:40 a.m. Monday by officers, who had received a tip from a concerned citizen. He was riding a bicycle in the mini park area on Harper Street at the time, according to information released Tuesday by Chief Danny Whiteley.

“Hamblin again tried to flee and hide but was ultimately taken into custody without incident and transported to the Poplar Bluff Police Department for processing before being lodged in the Butler County jail,” Whiteley said in a press release.

He is charged with assault first degree, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and property damage.

The hunt for Hamblin began after he reportedly shot at a resident in the 200 block of Euclid Avenue around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

The resident had asked two African American males who were fighting in front of his home to ‘move along,’ according to witness reports.

The resident told officers one of the men, later identified as Hamblin, shot at him. The resident’s wife also told officers she was outside when the shots occurred, and that her husband yelled, ‘he’s got a gun,’ and to get back inside, according to earlier police reports.

“Officers found two empty shell casings and one live, unfired round laying in the street. They also found a Dodge Caravan that had been struck by a bullet,” Whiteley said in the press release.

An off duty police officer reported witnessing a gray or silver Cadillac fleeing from the scene. The vehicle was located approximately one hour later on the east side of Poplar Bluff and a pursuit ensued, officers said.

Patrolman Matt Kassing later stopped pursuit out of concern for public safety, according to reports. Hamblin was traveling in excess of 120 mph on Highway 60, and 60 mph on residential streets, according to earlier reports.

Officers lost sight of the vehicle and later found it abandoned on Dalton Street. Witnesses reported seeing an African American male and an African American woman exit the vehicle.

The Cadillac was previously reported stolen from a mortuary in the St. Louis suburb of Jennings, officers report.

Whiteley would like to thank the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, along with the citizens of Poplar Bluff “for their assistance in taking another dangerous felon off the streets.”