Man bit by dog, shot by Kansas City police after pursuit charged with three felonies
A man who law enforcement said was shot by Kansas City police following a vehicle chase Friday has been charged with three felonies.
The man, Steven E. Dockins, of Merriam Woods, was allegedly driving a stolen vehicle during the pursuit. Dockins was also bit by a police dog at the end of the chase before he was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to court documents.
Jackson County prosecutors charged Dockins with a count of unlawful possession of a firearm, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and a count of resisting a lawful stop, in Circuit Court Monday.
Kansas City police attempted to stop the vehicle, a Hyundai, for a traffic violation around 5 p.m. Friday, and the driver refused to stop, according to court documents. Police used a helicopter to track the vehicle, which was circling in the area of East 12th Street and Prospect Avenue.
The vehicle nearly collided with a semi-truck and drove into oncoming lanes of traffic before an officer successfully used a tire deflation device at East 11th Street and Prospect Avenue, police said. Eventually, the vehicle stopped, and the driver got out and ran with a bag.
One of the chasing officers said the driver was running with a firearm in his hand. Police “reported shots were fired” and a police dog bit the driver, according to court documents.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is investigating the incident, said Friday night one Kansas City officer shot the man.
Dockins told police he had been walking along Independence Avenue when he saw the unoccupied vehicle and keys visible on the center console, authorities said. He allegedly said he was tired of walking, so he got in and drove off.
Dockins said after the stop sticks were used on the vehicle, he was unable to steer it properly, so he pulled over and ran. Dockins said his a .38 revolver was in his back pocket, and that it fell to the ground as he was running. He said he stopped and picked it up and continued on.
Dockins was convicted of a second-degree burglary charge in 2020 and was prohibited from having a firearm, according to court documents.
