Police Pursuit at Lake of the Ozarks

An unnamed Columbia man is behind bars in Miller County following a chase Saturday afternoon in Lake Ozark after stealing multiple cars.

The chase began after officers responded to a shoplifting call at a Kohl’s store at Eagles Landing in Lake Ozark. Police say the man took off in a vehicle later determined to be stolen, leading officers on a chase along Bagnell Dam Boulevard. Police say the driver was involved in a head-on collision on that street.

Investigators say that vehicle left the scene of the crash, then went over a cliff, then at some point, the Lake Ozark Police Department took the suspect into custody, handcuffed him behind his back, and placed him in the back of the patrol car.

While officers were investigating the original crash scene, the suspect was able to put his hands in front of him and break out the cage between the backseat and front seat of the car, taking off in the vehicle.

Police say the suspect abandoned the vehicle near the Porto Cima neighborhood. The suspect later entered the lake, where an officer arrested him.

Police say two patrol cars were damaged in the incident.