Senate Considers Proposal to Raise Penalties For Fleeing, Resisting, or Interfering With Arrest

The state Senate is considering a House-passed bill to strengthen penalties against suspects in police chases.

“Valentine’s Law” would make it a Class D felony to recklessly flee from or detain law enforcement using a vehicle.

The sponsor, Wildwood Republican Justin Sparks, tells Missourinet it’s named after Saint Louis County Police Detective Tony Valentine, who was killed in 2021 when a fleeing suspect crashed head-on into his patrol car…

Under the proposal, if anyone is injured during a vehicle chase it would rise to a Class B felony, and it would be a Class A felony if someone dies because of a car chase.