Witnesses say Alba man smoked meth before driving car, smashing into another vehicle

The preliminary hearing for an Alba man charged with felony driving while intoxicated is scheduled for Tuesday in Jasper County Circuit Court.

The Joplin Police Department arrested Dakota Lee Bell (DOB 1993) August 11 after he crashed the black 2006 he was driving into a white SUV at 20th and Davis Boulevard, while trying to evade a roadblock that had been set up to stop him, but continued driving.

From the probable cause statement:

Dakota Lee Bell was called as a suspicious person at Flying J Jasper County, Joplin MO. He was seen smoking what the W2 (witness) believed to be cocaine or meth. W2 advised there was smoke coming from inside the vehicle. She described his behavior was erratic as he was in and out of his car, dancing in the parking lot, and moving his vehicle around after he was seen smoking. 

W2 advised the subject appeared to be highly under the influence. 

Dakota Bell was found to have a full US extradition no bond felony warrant for Probation Violation out of Cherokee County Kansas.. When a car stop was initiated at 32nd and Doughboy Jasper County Joplin MO, due to reasonable suspicion of him being under the influence based on statements made by W2, he fled South on Davis Blvd. and the pursuit continued to 11th and Maiden Ln. He thus committee the offense of Felony Fleeing and Felony Fugitive. 

Due to his behavior and my observations prior to the stop, Ofc. Osborne responded and conducted a DWI investigation, and she determined Dakota Bell was driving while impaired. (Ofc. Osborne responded to complete a DWI investigation). 

Dakota was driving on a revoked driving status out of Missouri, thus committing the offense of DWR.  Dakota was found to be in possession of a homemade pipe (that is commonly used for smoking meth) and a small scale that was located during a tow inventory.

Due to having these items with him, he committed the offense of Possession of Paraphernalia. At 20th and Davis Blvd. I observed Dakota Bell crash the 2006 black Mercury into a white SUV. Dakota did not stop and instead continued fleeing from my patrol vehicle. 

By doing this he committed the offense of leaving the scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident. Witness to the entire incident WI, who was in the car as Dakota's passenger, advised Dakota Bell had been smoking meth at Flying J Joplin MO Jasper County in the parking lot.