Iowa Man Charged with Tampering and Endangerment After Sedalia Police Chase

On the morning of Sunday, March 2nd, Pettis County Deputies received an alert about a stolen vehicle entering the city of Sedalia from the west city limit, at Curry Drive and West 50 Highway.  The vehicle was located travelling eastbound on US 50.

As Deputies were updating the Pettis County Joint Communications with information, they noticed the driver of the suspect vehicle appeared to be nervous.  He was looking at the Deputies through his driver's side mirror.   The suspect vehicle then turned into the parking lot at 801 South Limit.  The suspect vehicle drove south through the parking lot and came out onto West 9th Street, travelling eastbound.  Deputies activated their emergency lights to conduct a stop.

The suspect vehicle then failed to yield to the Deputies, and began to flee.  The suspect vehicle fled eastbound on West 9th Street, and then back through the a parking lot to the east (the name of the business was redacted in the Probable Cause Statement).  The suspect vehicle then entered onto US 50, fleeing eastbound.

Deputies advised they were in pursuit.

The vehicle then turned southbound on to South Barrett Avenue.  As the suspect vehicle came to the intersection of South Barrett and West 16th, the vehicle attempted to slow down, but failed to stop.  The suspect vehicle almost collided with a vehicle that was travelling eastbound on West 16th Street.   The suspect vehicle then began to flee westbound in the eastbound lanes of traffic. As the suspect vehicle began to flee, Deputies decided to terminate the pursuit due to safety concerns.  The suspect vehicle attempted a south bound turn onto South Warren Avenue and failed to make the corner, going into the grass.  The vehicle then corrected, and began travelling southbound on South Warren Avenue.

The suspect then fled from the vehicle, moving to the southeast on foot.  As Deputies were chasing the driver on foot, the suspect jumped a fence and ran through a backyard.  The suspect ran through the backyard and jump the fence gain.  The suspect then jumped over the privacy fence and Deputies lost sight of him.

A short time later, Deputies were informed the suspect was apprehended.  At the scene, a passenger, a sixteen year old girl, had been left behind in the vehicle.

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Lei Charles Hunt, 21, of Ankeny Iowa, was arrested and charged with felony Tampering With a Motor Vehicle, felony Aggravated Fleeing a Stop or Detention, and felony Endangering the Welfare of a Child Creating Substantial Risk.   Hunt also faces charges in Polk County Iowa of Harassment in the 1st Degree, felony Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Theft in the 4th Degree.  Bond on the Pettis County charges was set at $10,000.  Hunt's case has been continued to March 11th, 2025, to enter an attorney status.