After manhunt, armed suspect is found hiding in a culvert

After a more than four-hour manhunt north of Richmond, Mo., area law enforcement found an armed suspect hiding in a culvert in rural Ray County.

Anthony Ray Stevenson, 44, fired at officers before he was captured around 2 p.m. Saturday. It was the third time since Friday night that he had fired at authorities.

“We’re thankful no one got hurt,” said Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Collin Stosberg of Troop A.

The manhunt unfolded Saturday morning and went into the afternoon. A landowner near Missouri 13 and 188th Street in Ray County reported seeing Stevenson around 9 a.m. Authorities were looking for the person who had first led Clay County deputies on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle Friday night.

At one point, Stevenson fired at deputies. No one was injured, but the patrol car was hit, Stosberg said.

After abandoning that vehicle and fleeing, authorities said, Stevenson stole another vehicle and eventually led Ray County deputies on a pursuit. At one point, deputies were fired at, Stosberg said. Again, no one was injured.

Stevenson had outstanding warrants on felony drug violations. He was also wanted by the state Probation and Parole division.

Once the landowner saw Stevenson on Saturday morning, several agencies began combing that area, searching fields, sheds and outbuildings.

Members of the Troop A SWAT team and Clay County deputies found Stevenson in the culvert under Dockery Road near 180th Street. They used a pole with a camera on the end to attempt to get a view inside the culvert.

“No sooner than officers stuck the camera into the culvert, the suspect fired at the camera,” Stosberg said. “He proceeded to recklessly fire at officers.”

Officers returned fire. No one was hit.

Less than five minutes later, Stevenson exited the culvert and surrended. Authorities say he was armed with a handgun and rifle.

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 12:28 PM with the headline "After manhunt, armed suspect is found hiding in a culvert."