A high-speed pursuit that followed county roads and Parsons’ streets ended when the driver’s vehicle became disabled on a flooded roadway.
The chase happened Thursday evening, June 5. At 11:01 p.m., Parsons Police Officer Sean McCullough saw a gold Honda Civic driving erratically and driving onto the curb near the 700 block of Main Street in Parsons. When McCullough attempted a traffic stop, the driver, who was later identified as 30-year-old Tyler Dwaine Vickrey, sped off northbound, initiating a pursuit, according to a release from Parsons police.
During the chase, Vickrey’s vehicle reached speeds of over 100 mph while weaving through city streets and county roads, disregarding traffic laws, including failure to stop, driving left of center and reckless driving. The pursuit extended east on U.S. 400, prompting coordination with Cherokee County law enforcement.
As Vickrey neared Strauss, the presence of additional law enforcement led him to execute a U-turn and drive westbound. The chase ultimately concluded when Vickrey turned north onto Xavier Road and drove into a flooded area, causing the vehicle to become immobilized.
OfficerS safely apprehended the driver without further incident.
Vickrey admitted to fleeing due to having a suspended driver’s license. A search of the vehicle was conducted after it was recovered from the flood zone, according to the release.
Upon review, Vickrey faces multiple citations and charges, including speeding, racing on roadway, driving left of center, failure to stop at a stop sign, driving too fast for road conditions, driving while suspended (repeat offense), fleeing and eluding law enforcement and driving as a habitual violator.
Vickrey has a prior conviction for fleeing and eluding in January 2024 and multiple past convictions for driving while suspended. He is also currently on community corrections.
Lt. Kyle Wiford, who supervises patrol operations, stated, “This was an extremely dangerous situation that could have resulted in tragedy. Our officers remained professional and coordinated throughout the pursuit, and I commend their efforts to bring it to a safe conclusion. Reckless drivers will not be tolerated in Parsons.”
Chief Robert Spinks added, “Fleeing from police is never worth the risk. We are fortunate no one was injured during this high-speed chase. The Parsons Police Department will continue to pursue charges aggressively against habitual offenders who threaten public safety. I commend the teamwork displayed by our officers and the coordination with our law enforcement partners.”
This continues to be an ongoing investigation, and citizens are encouraged to “see it, hear it, report it.” All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If anyone has any further information on this incident or any other criminal activity, please contact the Parsons Police Department at 421-7060, call the Tip Line at 421-7057 or email tips@parsonspdks. gov.
