Scott Co. cops misidentified man in high-speed chase, but he now faces drug charges

Police mistakenly identified the driver who led them on a high-speed chase from Cape Girardeau into Scott County on Wednesday, Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury said Monday.

Charges stemming from the chase filed against Douglas D. Benton, 45, of Cape Girardeau were dismissed, but only after Benton was arrested Friday morning after a traffic stop led police to find drugs in his possession, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case by Cape Girardeau patrolman Jason Angle.

When a white Mazda car fled Cape Girardeau police Wednesday, SEMO Drug Task Force officer Mike Alford told officers in pursuit that Benton was driving and the passenger was Courtney Trankle, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case by Scott County Sheriff's deputy Brooks Brockmire.

The suspect vehicle fled from Cape Girardeau through Scott City and into Scott County east of Benton, nearly striking other vehicles and at times exceeding 100 mph, Brockmire wrote.

Trankle was apprehended when the suspects fled on foot, but police were unable to find the driver, according to the statement.

The Scott County Sheriff's Office identified Benton in posts on social media, asked for the public's help in finding him, and the Scott County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged him with felony resisting arrest and three misdemeanor traffic violations. The charges were later dropped.

"The matter is still under investigation, and that's what led to the dismissal of Mr. Benton's charges," Drury said. "It was determined that Mr. Benton was not the driver."

Benton was stopped Friday morning for speeding after turning into a gas station on South Sprigg Street in Cape Girardeau near Highway 74, officer Angle wrote.

During the stop, Benton said he was speeding because he was on his way to Benton, Missouri, to consult his lawyer after learning a warrant for his arrest in connection with the car chase earlier in the week had been issued, Angle wrote.

Police handcuffed Benton, confirmed he had an active warrant and searched his person, finding about 4 grams of marijuana in his pants pocket and arresting him, according to the statement.

Further search uncovered about 2 grams of methamphetamine in Benton's car, Angle wrote.0

The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Benton with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor marijuana possession. His bond was set at $15,000.

Drury said his office continues to work with the SEMO Drug Task Force to investigate the car chase but declined to say whether the driver or any suspects had been identified Monday afternoon.

Director of the SEMO Drug Task Force Mark McClendon could not be reached by phone Monday and did not immediately respond to voicemail messages left at his office.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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