FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Just before 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 27, Officer Clinton “Dave” Laws was in the area of Glenstone and Division where he located a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Casey's General Store. The driver refused to acknowledge Officer Laws or identify himself. Officer Laws opened the truck door to make contact, and the driver began revving up his engine. With the truck door open, the driver backed up, knocking Officer Laws to the ground, and fled westbound on Division with Officer Laws caught in the rear driver’s side wheel well. While being dragged approximately 150 yards, Officer Laws drew his duty handgun and fired at the cab of the truck in attempt to stop the vehicle. He became dislodged from the vehicle on Division Street near Smith Park and was able to call for additional officers as the driver continued westbound. Officer Laws was quickly transported to Mercy Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Shortly after, deputies from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect vehicle abandoned in an alley in the 1100 block of N. Rogers. Multiple agencies flooded the area in search of the suspect including the Springfield Police Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol and security officers from Evangel University. Springfield police located the suspect driver, Jeffrey Lyon, Jr. (12-13-84) in the area of Calhoun and Prospect. Lyon already had several municipal warrants and was taken into custody for questioning. He is being held in the Greene County Jail on a $100,000 bond. The Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed charges against him today to include second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and leaving the scene of a crash.
Officer Laws sustained significant injuries including third-degree burns which will require further treatment.
The charges announced herein are merely an accusation, and Lyon is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Case number: 16-7945
Media Contact: Lisa Cox, Public Affairs Officer
417-864-1786
[email protected]
Release authorized by: Chief Paul Williams