Okla. woman arrested after police chase involving stolen Jeep

(KOAM) -- Authorities arrest an Oklahoma woman following a police chase involving a stolen Jeep Cherokee from Pittsburg.

According to the Pittsburg Police Department, officers responded to a report of a stolen Jeep Cherokee detected by a Flock License Plate Recognition device in the area of North Broadway Street and East Atkinson Avenue on Wednesday morning, September 25.

The Pittsburg PD says the Jeep Cherokee was reported stolen to PPD on Tuesday morning, September 24. The vehicle was reported stolen from the 2600 block Springdale Street in Pittsburg.

The department says officers and investigators found Jeep Cherokee in the Barto's Mobile Home Park, located on South Cayuga Street in Frontenac. Pittsburg Police requested the assistance of the Frontenac Police Department.

When the Frontenac Police Department arrived, PPD says the stolen Jeep Cherokee took off, fleeing from the officers. A vehicle pursuit then ensued, heading south into Pittsburg on Rouse Street.

Authorities continued the pursuit southbound on Rouse Street. It then moved into various side streets east of Rouse then west of Rouse before moving back onto Rouse Street and continuing southbound. Officers made attempts to position stop-sticks ahead of the pursuit, but the Jeep Cherokee kept changing directions.

According to Pittsburg PD, 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 East Quincy Street/540th Avenue to South 270th Street/State Line Road into Missouri, where the vehicle attempted to navigate a turn to head southbound but ended up crashing. According to the Pittsburg Police Department, Crawford County deputies arrested the driver, Michelle D. Johnson, 36, of Ada, Oklahoma, but the deputies, shortly after, turned over the driver into the custody of 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 Barton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged Johnson with 1st Degree Tampering with a Motor Vehicle. The Pittsburg Police Department is still investigating this incident, and will be seeking multiple felony charges against against Johnson through the Crawford County Attorney's Office.

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