A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man accused of firing multiple rounds into a passing vehicle is in jail today on a $250,000 bond after he turned himself in to police Monday afternoon.
Authorities had been searching for Michael Dewayne Jackson, 34, of the 1100 block of Fairmont Street since Friday afternoon.
At about 3 p.m., Jackson was driving on Highway 60, between the Highway 67/Highway 60 junction and Marble Hill Road, when he allegedly fired shots from his Buick SUV into the passenger side of a westbound Dodge Charger, according to police Lt. Josh Stewart.
Four alleged shots were fired from a handgun as the vehicles were traveling at times at speeds of 70 to 100 mph, Stewart said.
All four shots, Stewart said, struck the car, including one, which struck the rear passenger door just below the window.
Inside the Dodge, Stewart said, was Jackson's former girlfriend, 23; their children -- ages 1 and 5, and her new 26-year-old boyfriend. The children reportedly were in car seats in the back seat at that time.
The motive for the alleged shooting, according to Stewart, may have involved Jackson being upset due to her being with a new boyfriend.
"I started communicating with him the same day of the shooting, advising him I would meet him wherever he wanted to and that he needed to turn himself in without getting anyone else hurt," police Chief Danny Whiteley said.
During his communications, Whiteley said, he told the man everyone was "a little edgy given the circumstances," and "if he would meet me somewhere, I would guarantee his safety."
Monday afternoon, "he finally responded" and "agreed to meet me at the front door of the police department," Whiteley said. "I was out front when he came up.
"He was very cooperative and placed under arrest at that time."
Jackson was arrested at 5:10 p.m. and booked at the Butler County jail.
After being told of his rights, Stewart said, Jackson declined to talk to officers.
Jackson subsequently was charged with four Class B felonies of second-degree assault. His bond was set at $250,000 cash or surety.
Jackson is to appear Thursday before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth for arraignment on the charges.
Now that Jackson is in custody, Whiteley said, officers will be asking Jackson's charges to be upgraded to first-degree assault.