HILLSBORO – Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak announces an arrest and charges in a crime spree that crossed county lines and left numerous victims.
33-year-old Jonathon Lyles of St. Louis is charged with one count of assault – first degree or attempt, one count of armed criminal action, one count of burglary – first degree, two counts of stealing, one count of tampering with a motor vehicle – first degree, two counts of resisting arrest by fleeing – causing a substantial risk of serious injury or death, and two counts of assault – fourth degree.
At 7:38 Sunday morning, December 8th, Deputies were alerted to an armed robbery that had just occurred inside the Arnold City limits.
The suspect vehicle, a Porsche Boxster that was reported stolen from inside the St. Louis city limits and was allegedly being driven by Lyles, was spotted a short time later by a deputy who attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop, and the deputy initiated a pursuit. During the pursuit, Lyles allegedly tried to ram multiple deputies’ patrol vehicles and a deputy who was attempting to deploy stop sticks. Deputies later ended the pursuit due to the danger caused by the suspect vehicle driving the wrong way on Highway 67.
The suspect vehicle left Jefferson County headed southbound on Interstate 55, and was spotted by Ste. Genevieve County deputies who gave chase. Lyles, again, allegedly tried to ram law enforcement vehicles and was later spotted driving the wrong way on Northbound I-55.
The suspect vehicle was abandoned in the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood south of Festus, where Lyles allegedly entered a home in the 1200 block of Hawthorne Hills and demanded money, car keys, and a cell phone from the female victim inside.
Lyles then allegedly stole the victim’s Toyota Camry. He was immediately spotted by law enforcement officers and collided with two Missouri State Highway Patrol cruisers.
The stolen Camry became stuck, and Lyles was taken into custody without further incident. He is being held at the Jefferson County jail without bond.
“The men and women of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the first responders in Jefferson and Ste. Genevieve Counties who helped bring this dangerous crime spree to an end, and the office of Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Stefanski for moving quickly to help secure the warrant,” Sheriff Marshak stated.