KENNETT, Mo. - A Kennett man was charged Wednesday, Sept. 18 with six felonies and two misdemeanors after a Tuesday night high-speed pursuit through city streets.
"Multiple victims" jumped from the fleeing vehicle as it sped through Kennett, police said.
Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain charged Allen Isla Miguel Cannon, 22, who has listed a a Slicer Street address, with a myriad of felonies including four counts of felony second degree kidnapping; felony aggravated fleeing a stop or detention; felony driving while intoxicated; misdemeanor careless and imprudent driving; and misdemeanor failure to maintain financial responsibility, according to charging documents.
Kennett Police Dept. Officer Brandon Perkins reported the pursuit began about 10:30 p.m. when a white Chevrolet Trailblazer operated by Cannon traveling 64 mph in a 45 mph zone nearly collided head-on with Perkins' patrol unit.
“The vehicle then fled at high rate of speed,” Perkins reported. “Failing to stop at stop signs and failed to maintain a single lane while traveling multiple city streets.
“While turning off Ballard onto the North Bypass, juvenile victim No. 1 opened the back door and jumped from the vehicle while it was still in motion causing him to hit the ground,” Perkins explained. “The vehicle continued to flee while turning west onto Fifth Street, victim No. 2 opened the front passenger door and jumped from the vehicle while it was still in motion causing him to hit the ground.”
Cannon continued to flee before coming to a complete stop at the intersection of Seventh Street and Kennett Street, where victims No. 3 and No. 4 were able to exit the vehicle, Perkins said.
“The driver exited the vehicle, at which time he was placed under arrest at 10:41 p.m. and was identified as Allen Cannon,” the officer reported. “While securing Cannon in my patrol vehicle, I could smell a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage emitting from his breath.
“I asked Cannon if he had been drinking,” Perkins continued. “Cannon stated 'yes.'”
Perkins reported Cannon submitted to alcohol breath tests and blew .159 first and .169 later.
“Upon arrival at the Dunklin County Jail I conducted field sobriety testing on Cannon,” Perkins said.
The suspect failed those tests, Perkins said, and “I later learned that victim No. 2 was transported by Medic One to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for injuries sustained to his left leg when he exited” the Trailblazer
“Victim No. 2 told officers he told Cannon multiple times to stop the vehicle and he would not,” Perkins said. “It was evident that victim No. 1 and victim No. 2 did not want to be in the vehicle since victim No. 2 stated he told Cannon multiple times to stop.
“Cannon does not have a drivers license nor was there any proof of insurance for the vehicle,” the officer continued. “I believe that the defendant would not appear in court in response to a criminal summons and/or that the defendant poses a danger to a victim, the community, or another person, for the following reasons: Cannon fled from officers and caused distress and injuries to his passengers during the course of fleeing from officers.”
Cannon was lodged in the Dunklin County Jail in lieu of $95,000 cash-only bond, Jain said.