FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. – A St. Peters man told police he was doing “the Lord’s Work” when he stole a car and crashed it at high speed. It was all in an effort, he claimed, to rid the vehicle of a “demon.”

The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Cole Gibson, 30, with two felonies – stealing a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing – in the crash investigation.

The crash happened on April 29 on Highway 50 following a police chase in Union, Missouri and surrounding areas.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, officers first responded to a report of a stolen vehicle from a gas station on Progress Parkway. A suspect, later identified as Gibson, was captured on video entering a victim’s vehicle without permission and driving away.

Police later attempted a traffic stop on Highway 50, but Gibson refused to pull over for some time and was seen driving at speeds over 85 mph. Court documents state that Gibson failed to make a right turn due to speeding, then veered off the roadway and struck a sign, causing significant damage to the stolen vehicle.

Investigators say Gibson tried to run away after the crash, but he was quickly tracked down and arrested.

When questioned by officers on the crash, Gibson confessed to stealing the vehicle and claimed he was doing “the Lord’s work” due to the vehicle “having a demon in it,” per court documents.

Gibson was booked into the Franklin County Jail on April 30 and is being held without bond.