Arrest made following pursuit

Nevada Daily Mail

A Joplin resident is in the hospital following a pursuit with Vernon County Sheriff's deputies early Wednesday morning.

According to sheriff's officials, a deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on 1725 Road and after running the tags, was notified the vehicle was stolen from Joplin. The deputy called out the pursuit when the vehicle failed to yield.

The vehicle pulled over several times for the deputy, but would take off again when the deputy would start to get out of the vehicle, according to a press release from the VCSO.

"The driver was not able to outrun the deputy and eventually pulled over and was taken into custody," said Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher. The sheriff said the driver has been identified as 18-year-old Dustin R. Detherage of Joplin.

Mosher said he was notified shortly after Detherage arrived at the jail that Detherage was being transported to the hospital after the man reportedly told deputies he had eaten a bag of meth during the pursuit because he did not want to go to jail.

"He didn't want to go to jail so he ate a bag of meth, but was driving a stolen vehicle. So I'm not sure how he thought that was going to work out for him," said Mosher.

Warrants were issued Wednesday afternoon charging Detherage with possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, tampering with a motor vehicle, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, and DWI -- drug intoxication.

Bonds have been set at $16,000 cash only. The sheriff said Detherage was still in the hospital being guarded by deputies as of Wednesday evening.