Suspect Arrested after Car Chase in Springfield

UPDATE: A high speed pursuit that went from north to south Springfield in the middle of afternoon rush hour Tuesday ends with a wanted fugitive in custody.

Greene County sheriff’s deputies tried to arrest Johnnie Coffer in north Springfield, but when they approached a house, Coffer and another man left in a white Chevy Silverado.

Investigators say Coffer stopped the vehicle and assaulted the driver at I-44 and West Bypass, forcing him out of the vehicle.

The pursuit then went into the south side of the city, with the fugitive repeatedly calling 911, threatening to assault other drivers.

The chase ended near Grant and Dale when a trained deputy performced a low-speed tactical vehicle maneuver.

Authorities say Coffer intentionally rammed a patrol vehicle head-on before being arrested.

Coffer had minor injuries, but nobody else was hurt.

Police closed several intersections near the arrest scene.

Original Story: Police have apprehended a suspect after a car chase made its way through North Springfield Tuesday afternoon.

No news has been released as to when the chase started, but witnesses say they saw the white pickup truck travelling on Kearney and Kansas Expressway being chased by several police cars.

Authorities were able to forcibly stop the vehicle near Dale and Grant and arrested the suspect.

Police blocked off an area near the scene of the chase’s end, but have now opened the area back up after clearing the incident. The identity of the suspect has not been released and no injuries have been reported at this time.