Rifle-touting driver charged with assault after pursuit through Lee’s Summit

Police arrested a man late Friday accused of pointing a rifle at a police officer and leading police on a pursuit from Lee’s Summit to Grandview.

The Missouri Highway Patrol arrested Richard S. Connely, 30, of Belton at a Belton home shortly before midnight.

Prosecutors had charged Connely earlier in the evening with one count of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

The incident began with a report of someone stealing cars at an apartment complex on Northwest O’Brien Road, according to Lee’s Summit police.

When officers arrived, they stopped a silver Ford Focus leaving the area. The driver had a brief conversation with an officer before fleeing.

The officer began following, and the driver pointed a rifle out of his car window at the officer. As the pursuit continued, the driver continued to point the rifle at officers and was throwing items from the vehicle.

The pursuit ended in Grandview after the Ford crashed around 150th Terrace and Fuller Avenue and the suspect fled on foot.

Officers set up a perimeter but did not immediately find the suspect. Later Missouri Highway Patrol troopers stopped a vehicle leaving the area and detained two people, but they were released without charges. It was determined that the two people were not related to the incident.

No injuries were reported.

Prosecutors requested a $200,000 bond for Connely.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 8:49 AM with the headline "Rifle-touting driver charged with assault after pursuit through Lee’s Summit."