Clay County Woman Charged After High-Speed Pursuit

A Kansas City-area woman is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say a reported burglary at a home under construction in Liberty led to a high-speed pursuit through Clay County and into Kansas City.

Clay County prosecutors charged Brittany Hamilton on June 27 with second-degree burglary, stealing $750 or more, tampering with a motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing under Missouri’s Valentine’s Law.

According to police reports, Clay County sheriff’s deputies were called June 27 to a burglary in progress at a home under construction in Liberty. Investigators allege Hamilton was stealing windows from inside the garage before leaving the scene in a pickup truck.

A responding deputy later spotted the truck traveling south on Interstate 35 and activated emergency equipment. Police reports say Hamilton did not stop and instead fled at a high rate of speed, prompting a multi-agency pursuit.

Authorities said the pursuit continued southbound on I-35 past Missouri 152, Pleasant Valley Road and the I-435 junction, reaching speeds of about 100 mph. Near Northeast Vivion Road, the truck allegedly accelerated to approximately 110 mph while passing vehicles on the right shoulder.

The chase continued past Northeast Chouteau Trafficway, where police reports allege the driver again used the right shoulder and forced motorists to move out of the way. At Northeast Parvin Road, the Missouri State Highway Patrol took over as the primary pursuing agency as the pursuit crossed into Jackson County.

A short time later, Clay County dispatchers advised that the truck had been found on Genessee Street in Kansas City. Deputies responded to recover the vehicle and contacted Kansas City police, who were searching the area for the occupants.

A records check showed the truck had been reported stolen out of Kansas City. While deputies processed the vehicle, a Kansas City police officer arrived with Hamilton, who had been located and detained nearby. Police reports state that a witness identified Hamilton as the driver of the pickup truck.

Hamilton was taken into custody by deputies and transported to the Clay County Detention Center. The court issued an arrest warrant and set bond at $90,000.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.