ST. LOUIS – A man is in custody after a police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle earlier this month.
According to court documents, Aaron Smith (age not provided) walked to a CarHub in the 8500 block of St. Charles Rock Rd. on April 3, broke into a Kia vehicle and drove off the lot. Surveillance footage shows Smith and another individual walking from the QuikTrip across the street to the lot and breaking into the car.
The next day, police found the car abandoned in the 2400 block of Northland Ave.
Records state an officer was later notified of a car matching the license plate from a stolen Hyundai vehicle in Troy. When the officer did a U-turn, the vehicle immediately began fleeing on St. Charles Rock Road and onto southbound Interstate 170.
The pursuit went down to Page Avenue and traveled northbound before reaching St. Charles Rock Road again. Smith allegedly continued recklessly driving, going through a red light and almost causing a crash at high rates of speed.
Officers were notified of Smith heading to Olden Avenue when they found the stolen Hyundai at the same location as the first stolen Kia on Northland Ave.
Police then called Smith’s mom, who stated that Smith lived with her and was currently at home “bragging of getting away from the police,” court records state. She provided the door code so officers could enter and arrest her son.
At the time of Smith’s arrest, he was wearing the same clothing and black ski mask that could be seen when the first car was stolen. The lot with the abandoned cars was adjacent to his residence.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Smith with stealing a motor vehicle, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, and aggravated fleeing. Smith was released last week after posting a $100,000 cash-only bond. He’s been ordered to comply with the conditions of his pre-trial release, which include no alcohol and wearing a GPS bracelet. He’s due in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, May 15.