Expired license plates triggered police chase that shut down I-35: court records
A man has been arrested following a June 27 police chase in Liberty that left Interstate 35 shut down for nearly two hours, according to Clay County court documents.
Larry M. Finley faces one count each of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance, according to a probable cause statement for Finley’s arrest.
Ar around 2:50 p.m. June 27, a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop near Missouri 69 and Nebo Hills Road, according to court documents.
The deputy noticed a temporary license plate on a gray Chevrolet Impala that “was faded and appeared printed or worn,” according to court documents. A record check showed the license had expired on March 4.
Finley appeared to change lanes, “in an apparent attempt to place vehicles between he and the deputy,” according to court documents.
The deputy engaged his emergency lights “due to the invalid license plate and aggressive driving he observed.”
Finley stopped on Missouri 69, with an individual in the passenger seat, according to court documents. When the deputy asked to see paperwork for the vehicle, Finley began to rummage around a red backpack.
When the deputy asked if Finley was retrieving the vehicle title, the man said yes, but never pulled it out of the bag, according to court documents.
The deputy asked Finley to hand him the title, and Finley began to shake his head, and said “no, no, no,” according to court documents. He then drove away.
The deputy pursued Finley, reaching speeds up to 118 mph in a 45 mph zone, according to court documents.
Finley then turned around at a gas station before continuing south on the highway, according to court documents. He continued to swerve around several pedestrian vehicles reaching speeds up to 103 mph.
After striking a set of tire deflation devices, Finley stopped on the shoulder of the highway, and the witness exited the vehicle, according to court documents.
Finley continued driving, and deputies utilized a tactical vehicle intervention, according to court documents. The vehicle came to a stop, and as deputies told Finley to exit the vehicle, the man pulled a knife out, held it to his neck and began crying and yelling.
At 4:50 p.m., deputies noticed Finley had fallen asleep, according to court documents. He was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital.
In a search of Finley’s vehicles, deputies found drug paraphernalia, according to court documents. The witness told officers the pair were going to deliver drugs.
A nine-month investigation by The Star found more than 1,200 police chases occurred in the Kansas City metro in 2022, resulting in 150 crashes and 51 injuries.
