Kansas City man is charged in chase that included gunshots fired at police

Jackson County prosecutors filed multiple criminal charges Tuesday against a 30-year-old Kansas City man who allegedly fired gunshots at Kansas City police officers Monday during a high-speed chase.

Raymond P. Vassie faces 11 felony counts, including robbery, assaulting a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, tampering, unlawful possession of a firearm and armed criminal action.

In a related case, prosecutors charged Josh Black, 20, of Kansas City, with robbery and armed criminal action for allegedly holding up a south Kansas City shoe store with Vassie.

Police took Vassie, four other adults and a 9-year-old girl into custody Monday after the police chase ended near 63rd Street and Bruce R. Watkins Drive.

According to court records, Kansas City police tried to pull over a maroon Ford Expedition at 27th Street and Brooklyn Avenue. The officer learned that vehicle had been used in an earlier robbery.

Vassie, accused of being the driver, refused to stop.

The officers followed the Expedition while waiting for a police helicopter and other officers to respond. One officer attempted to throw devices to flatten the Expedition’s tires, but the driver avoided them and sped away.

The 15-minute chase continued on Watkins Drive. While attempting to elude police, the Expedition forced other drivers off the road.

A woman inside the vehicle feared for her and her daughter’s safety and reportedly screamed and pleaded with Vassie to pull over and let them out.

A witness said a man in the vehicle gave Vassie a handgun and told him to throw it from the car. Instead, Vassie allegedly pointed the handgun out the window and fired at least one shot at the officers. He then reportedly threw the gun out of the window.

Vassie pulled over at 63rd Street and Watkins Drive, where he and the others were arrested.

Police learned that the Expedition had been stolen from Texas City, Texas.

Authorities said Vassie and Black held up a south Kansas City store Friday and stole four pairs of basketball shoes, a backpack and a ring.

Vassie also is accused of stealing money from a cellphone store in the 9400 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard on Sunday.

Prosecutors have asked for a $200,000 bond for Vassie and a $75,000 bond for Black.

Vassie has two prior convictions for robbery and armed criminal action.

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Kansas City man is charged in chase that included gunshots fired at police."