ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A man is facing charges after police said he led police on a high-speed chase and hit a detective with his car while a child was sitting in the back seat of the car.
William Hampton, 44, was charged with first-degree assault of a special victim, endangering the welfare of a child and multiple other crimes in connection with a Tuesday St. Louis County police chase.
Police saw Hampton speed through a red light on Lewis and Clark Road in a 2016 Nissan Maxima at about 3:15 p.m., according to the probable cause statement. The officer tried to pull Hampton over, but he continued to flee, weaving through traffic and driving against traffic at times.
A detective tried to deploy a tire-deflation device in the path of the Maxima, but the probable cause statement said Hampton drove at the detective. The detective tried to get out of the way but was struck in the arm and injured.
The tire-deflation device worked on at least one of the car's tires, which eventually led to the car coming to a stop.
Officers were able to take Hampton into custody after the car stalled out, and they found a 10-year-old child in the back seat of the car. Hampton tried to resist being handcuffed, but officers were eventually able to take him into custody.
In all, Hampton was charged with attempted first-degree assault of a special victim, armed criminal action, resisting arrest by fleeing, endangering the welfare of a child, and resisting arrest for a felony. He is being held on a $200,000, cash-only bond.
