MEDIA RELEASE – Stolen Motor Vehicle Pursuit

September 27, 2024

Released by Maj. B. Henderson

On Wednesday morning, September 25, 2024, at approximately 7:50 AM, law enforcement officers from the Pittsburg Police Department received information of a possible stolen Jeep Cherokee being detected by a Flock License Plate Recognition device in the area of N. Broadway Street and E. Atkinson Avenue. The Jeep Cherokee was reported stolen to the Pittsburg Police Department on Tuesday morning, September 24, 2024, and was reported to have been taken from the 2600 block of Springdale Street.

After the Flock LPR alert, officers and investigators began to check the area for the Jeep Cherokee. At approximately 8:05 AM, officers and investigators located the Jeep Cherokee in the Barto’s Mobile Home Park, located on S. Cayuga Street, in Frontenac, and requested assistance from the Frontenac Police Department. A few moments later, after a Frontenac Police unit arrived, the stolen Jeep Cherokee began to take off, fleeing from the officers. A motor vehicle pursuit then ensued, heading south into Pittsburg on Rouse Street.

The pursuit continued southbound on Rouse Street and then moved into various side streets east of Rouse and then to side streets west of Rouse before moving back onto Rouse Street and continuing southbound. During this, attempts were made to position stop-sticks ahead of the pursuit, but the Jeep Cherokee kept changing directions. The pursuit continued south on Rouse to Quincy Street, where the Jeep Cherokee began to head eastbound and moved out of city limits. The Pittsburg officers and investigators involved in the pursuit dropped out, but the pursuit continued eastbound with deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

The pursuit continued eastbound on E. Quincy Street / 540th Avenue to S. 270th Street / State Line Road, just across the state line into Missouri, where the vehicle attempted to navigate a turn to head southbound but ended up crashing.

The driver, later identified as 36-year-old Michelle D. Johnson, of Ada, Oklahoma, was taken into custody by Crawford County Deputies. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Johnson was turned over to the custody of deputies from the Barton County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office, where she was placed under arrest.

The stolen Jeep Cherokee was recovered by investigators from the Pittsburg Police Department who arrived at the scene to process the vehicle, and it was later towed away.

The Pittsburg Police Department is still investigating this incident, and will be seeking multiple felony charges against Ms. Johnson through the Crawford County Attorney’s Office.

Ms. Johnson is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Anyone having information related to this, or other incidents, is urged to contact the Pittsburg Police Department at (620) 231-1700, or at our automated tip line, (620) 231- TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.

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