High speed motorcycle pursuit ends in Gainesville

Officers say a nearly 50-mile long, high-speed motorcycle chase that reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour ended in Gainesville around 1 a.m. Sunday, May 8. 

Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase said that the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received numerous calls of a reckless driver on a motorcycle in the Goodhope area of Douglas County.  

“[Douglas County] Deputy Shawn Wilson located the motorcycle near the Plainview School and attempted to make a traffic stop on it [just after midnight]. The motorcycle immediately fled reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Cpl. James Nelson and Deputy Sam Evans joined in the pursuit. The motorcycle led deputies on a 48 mile pursuit that ended in Ozark County near Gainesville at [1 a.m.] ,” Degase explained. 

Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Ozark County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Multi-jurisdictional Task Force arrested Anthony Kutchko, 38, of Taneyville, and transported him to the Douglas County Jail. Kutchko was currently on probation and parole for domestic assault and possession of a controlled substance. 

“Unfortunately during the incident [Douglas County] Deputy Shawn Wilson sustained an injury to his knee and sought medical attention. X-rays showed a fracture to his knee cap, and he was later released from the hospital on crutches pending further treatment,” Degase said.  

A warrant was issued for Kutchko in Douglas County for the class E felony of resisting arrest by fleeing causing substantial risk of injury, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving, having no insurance, having no valid drivers license and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. 

Bond was set at $25,000 cash only.

Officers expect Kutchko will also be facing additional charges in Ozark County relating to the injury of Wilson. 

Both Kutchko and  Wilson were treated at the scene by the Ozark County Ambulance for injuries sustained during the incident. 

Degase thanked all of the agencies that assisted and commended the work of those involved including the dispatchers from both the Douglas and Ozark County Sheriff’s Offices. 

“Mr. Kutchko put numerous people’s lives in danger last night, and I will do everything I can to make sure he is locked up for a long time. It is obvious he is not a good candidate for probation and for anyone to say anything different is an insult to these deputies who put their lives on the line,” Degase said.