NewsAugust 17, 2011

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- A 28-year-old police officer from the Southeast Missouri town of Caruthersville is dead after a suspect crashed into his squad car. Evan Burns died early Tuesday. Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell says deputies spotted a stolen Cadillac Escalade on Interstate 55 about 12:30 a.m., and began a chase. When the SUV left the interstate and went on Highway 84, Burns and another Caruthersville officer, Richard Altice, set up spike strips...

The Associated Press

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. (AP) -- A suburban St. Louis man is charged with first-degree murder for a crash that killed a police officer in Missouri's Bootheel.

Pemiscot County authorities say 28-year-old Caruthersville police Officer Evan Burns died early Tuesday when his cruiser was rammed by a Cadillac Escalade reported stolen from the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon.

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Deputies had chased the SUV on Interstate 55 before it turned onto Highway 84, where Burns and another officer set up spike strips. Burns died on impact.

Twenty-nine-year-old Deonta Jamarr Williamson of O'Fallon is jailed without bond pending a court appearance Thursday. Court records did not list a lawyer for him at press time.

His mother, Rhonda Williamson said her son was mentally ill and she struggled to find him professional help. She said she wanted to give her condolences to Burns' family.

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