Latest news with #MissouriStateHighwayPatrol
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Kindergarten ‘Teacher of the Year' accused of sending child porn, MO cops say
A woman who in 2024 was named Teacher of the Year at her Missouri school is accused of sending child porn on social media, authorities say. Erika Morton, a kindergarten teacher in St. Francois County, is charged with five counts of promoting child pornography and five counts of child pornography possession, according to a probable cause statement. Using the social media platform Kik, Morton sent the videos in January and February during a 'sexually charged' conversation with another user, Missouri State Highway Patrol said. She acknowledged the victims in the videos are under the age of 18, troopers said. Morton admitted to sending the content during an interview with troopers, saying she sent them using her phone at her home in Ste. Genevieve, according to the charging documents. 'The suspect is employed as a kindergarten teacher at a public school in St. Francois County and has expressed a sexual interest in children,' authorities said. Farmington R-7 School District did not name the teacher but said in a statement to KSDK that a Truman Learning Center staff member 'is no longer employed' by the district after it learned of the allegations. The district does not believe the 'alleged incidents took place on school grounds or involved any Farmington R-7 students.' As first reported by KSDK, Morton was recognized during a December school board meeting as the school's Teacher of the Year. She taught in the district for 10 years. Records show Morton was jailed on a $1 million bond. Truman Learning Center is in Farmington, about a 70-mile drive south from St. Louis.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trooper suffers minor injuries after getting shot in Saline County; MSHP investigating officer-involved shooting
Ryan Shiner COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A announced in a Tuesday evening social media post that the MSHP Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Saline County. The trooper was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries and has since been released. According to a MSHP press release, just after 6:15 p.m., troopers were notified that the Concordia Police Department was pursuing a motorcycle driven by a suspect wanted for an out-of-state homicide. Officers lost sight of the suspect, but just before 8 p.m., Highway Patrol troopers in the area saw the suspect on 115th Rd. heading toward Belmont Ave. The suspect crashed the motorcycle into a trooper's patrol car near the intersection of 115th Rd. and Belmont Ave., running away on foot. The trooper ran after the suspect, who was armed with a handgun. The suspect shot at the trooper, hitting the trooper's bullet-resistant vest. The trooper returned fire, shooting the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The names of the troopers and the suspect involved were not immediately available. The reports from the investigation will be forwarded to the Saline County prosecutors. Click here to follow the original article.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Missouri Troopers expanding use of ‘Ghost Graphic' cars before July 4th
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Missouri State Troopers are preparing to roll out additional 'ghost graphic' vehicles just in time for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. As News-Press NOW reported last month, the reflective graphics on these patrol cars allow troopers to discreetly monitor aggressive or reckless driving on the roadways. Officers have deployed these vehicles on a rolling basis ahead of major holidays in the past. Low-profile vehicles, that's exactly what these are, and they're a necessary enforcement tool for us," said Sgt. Shane Hux of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H. Across Missouri, 10 vehicles with ghost graphics were deployed and put into service ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. According to MSHP, 10 additional vehicles will go into service before the Fourth of July weekend. Nine have already been deployed to the nine patrol troops across the state, and the remaining vehicles will be assigned to areas experiencing high numbers of complaints about reckless driving and crashes. "We have one assigned for Troop H, to Andrew and Buchanan counties," said Sgt. Shane Hux. "That's where we're seeing a high influx of traffic as well as an increase in traffic crashes." State troopers say they frequently witness drivers speeding past while distracted by their phones. The low-visibility vehicles have been helping troopers catch violators more effectively. "It gives an officer the opportunity to witness other violations because the public becomes accustomed to our standard patrol vehicles," Hux said. "For example, when our first Dodge Chargers came out, they had very distinctive rear tail lights. So at night, people quickly learned to recognize them. It's beneficial for us to mix things up for the motoring public." While some residents have mixed opinions about the addition of these vehicles, MSHP emphasizes that the goal is to protect public safety. "More than 1,000 people lose their lives every year in Missouri due to motor vehicle crashes," Hux said. "If these vehicles can reduce that number even slightly, that's a good sign. MSHP Troop H expects to have another 'ghost graphic' vehicle added to the area by the Fourth of July.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Miami Herald
Fiery collision kills four when motorhome goes into oncoming traffic, MO cops say
A man and woman were driving in a motorhome when the 67-year-old man drove across the median and struck an oncoming SUV in the opposite lane, Missouri officials said. Both vehicles erupted into flames at about 1 p.m. June 15, killing the four people in the motorhome and SUV near Bourbon, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In a crash report, state troopers said the motorhome was driven by a 67-year-old man with a 66-year-old female passenger from Elizabeth, Arkansas. The other vehicle had a 65-year-old male driver and 64-year-old female passenger from Bourbon. Authorities did not identify the victims, but a Facebook post from a cafe identified the couple from Missouri. 'We have news that has literally brought us to our knees today,' Bourbon Café and Coffee Saloon wrote June 16. 'Our dear friend Midge and her husband Jim were part of the horrific accident on Highway 44 yesterday, and they did not survive.' The cafe said that Midge is a grandparent and remembered for being part of the community. Bourbon is about a 75-mile drive southwest from St. Louis and about a 170-mile drive northeast from Elizabeth, Arkansas.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Can a Missouri officer in an unmarked car pull you over? Here's what state law says
Usually unassuming cars on Missouri highways are just that: unassuming. But sometimes they turn on sirens and flashing lights and pull you over. In Missouri, law enforcement is allowed to use unmarked cars to pull over drivers. This means police don't have to display bold decals to pursue you. Turning on red or blue flashing lights or a siren is enough, according to state law. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a May Facebook post that less-visible vehicles allow officers 'help us monitor aggressive & dangerous driving more effectively.' In this post they announced the installation of barely visible 'ghost graphics' on some vehicles, which are invisible in daylight. Thousands of Facebook commenters criticized the graphics, one saying, 'Trying to be as hidden as possible from the public is definitely a unique way of protecting and serving,' while another wrote, 'Your cars should all be high-vis so it is easy to locate you in case of emergency.' While both Missouri and Kansas allow officers in unmarked vehicles to enforce traffic laws, some states like California, New Mexico and Idaho prohibit the practice. When the highway patrol is making their patrol cars blend in, the Kansas City Police Department's vehicles will soon stand out. Starting July 1, some marked KCPD vehicles will now have their blue roof lights steadily on, after a city council vote. The lights are supposed to act as a deterrent and make it easier for residents to flag down officers. Jake Becchina, a KCPD spokesperson, offered these tips on what to do if you're pursued by an unfamiliar vehicle in Kansas City: Pull over to the nearest well-lit spot. KCPD vehicles have sirens and red and blue lights. KCPD officers are 'dressed in police uniform or other clearly marked as police.' If you're concerned, verify by calling 911 or KCPD's nonemergency number, 816-234-5111. Have more questions about traffic laws in Missouri? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@
