MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Troop B Headquarters - 308 Pine Crest Drive - Macon, Missouri 63552


NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Sergeant Brent J. Bernhardt
(660) 385-2132
B13095
September 3, 2013

EMPHASIS: Moberly Police Officer Injured During Foot Pursuit And Apprehension Of Fleeing Suspect


On September 3, 2013, at approximately 1:47 p.m., a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a green Ford F-150 pickup, which was westbound on U.S. Highway 24, in Moberly, Missouri, for a traffic violation. The white male driver of the pickup, later identified as David W. Asher, 32, of Higbee, Missouri, failed to yield to the emergency vehicle and began fleeing. A pursuit ensued into Randolph County and a short time later returned into the Moberly city limits where a tire deflation device was deployed and disabled one of the tires on the truck. The Moberly Police Department and the Randolph County Sheriff's Department were called to assist with the pursuit. At 1:56 p.m., Asher stopped the pickup truck on Franklin Street, west of Emerson Street in Moberly, Missouri, and began to flee on foot. As Moberly Police Officer Travis Mitchell began running after Asher, he was struck by a Randolph County Sheriff's Department vehicle, driven by Deputy Aaron Wilson, who drove his vehicle off of the roadway in an attempt to get in front of the fleeing suspect. Asher was taken into custody, and it was determined that Moberly Police Officer Mitchell received a minor injury as a result of being struck by the vehicle. Mitchell was transported to the Moberly Regional Medical Center by a Randolph County Ambulance, where he was treated and later released.
Asher was arrested for the following charges: misdemeanor Howard County warrant for peace disturbance; felony driving while intoxicated; felony driving while revoked; felony assault on a law enforcement officer (two counts); felony resisting arrest; felony possession of a controlled substance; misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia; and careless and imprudent driving. He was transported to the Randolph County Jail where he is currently being held on a 24-hour hold.
The charges for which the individual was arrested are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

(###)