Felony charges filed against reputed Joplin Honky after second deadly pursuit in nine days

At the time reputed Joplin Honkies gang member Jared Prier allegedly led authorities on a dangerous two-state pursuit November 25, a warrant had already been issued for his arrest on charges stemming from another pursuit nine days earlier.

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney filed felony tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest by fleeing, as well as a misdemeanor charge of driving while revoked against Prier (DOB 1985), Joplin, today.

The November 25 pursuit is detailed in the probable cause statement:

On 11/25/2023 I observed a white Ford F350, with no license plates displayed on the vehicle, sitting in a driveway at a residence in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. I saw a male exit the residence, later identified as Jared Prier, and place a Missouri license plate onto the rear of the Ford F350 before he got into the truck and leaving southbound. I attempted to stop Prier near 24th/Iowa Avenue in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri for a investigation for driving under the influence after seeing multiple traffic violations in a short distance. 

Once I initiated my emergency lights and sirens, Prier fled from the stop with speeds nearing 70 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour residential area. Prier led officers on an extensive pursuit with speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour. 

Prier was often driving in the oncoming traffic lanes throughout the pursuit in both Jasper County, Missouri and in Kansas. The pursuit entered Kansas, then went back into Missouri, before returning to Kansas. 

Prier was ultimately taken into custody in Cherokee County, Kansas after a pursuit that lasted approximately 36 minutes. The vehicle Prier was operating was found to be stolen out of Newton County, Missouri.  Prier did not have any active warrants for his arrest at the time the stop was initiated.

Jasper County Circuit Court records, however, indicate Judge Joseph Hensley signed a warrant for Prier's arrest four days earlier with a stipulation of "no bond."

The charges listed on the warrant were resisting arrest by fleeing and driving while suspended.

The warrant was issued five days after Prier led the Joplin Police Department on another deadly chase, which is described in the probable cause statement filed in Jasper County Circuit Court.

On 11-16-2023 at 15th and Range Line in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri a 2012 Honda committed multiple traffic violations consistent with driver impairment. 

A pursuit was initiated and the driver operated the vehicle at speeds of 70-90MPH between 15th and Murphy Avenue, ran the red lights at 15th and Connecticut, 20th and Connecticut, and 32 and Main turning southbound at unsafe speeds for other motorists on the roadway, creating a significant threat of serious physical injury or death. The pursuit was discontinued in Newton County, entering Kansas. 

Through an investigation and video surveillance from 1201 South Range Line, it was determined the driver was Jared Prier who operated the vehicle. Prier is also a suspended driver in Missouri with 4 active driving suspensions.

At the time the pursuits occurred, Prier was on probation after pleading guilty in 2021 in Newton County Circuit Court to felony assault and property damage charges.

Prier was sentenced to seven years in prison for the assault and four years for property damages, but both sentences were suspended August 23, 2021, and Prier was placed on probation for five years.

Newton County Circuit Court records indicate probation violation reports against Prier were filed August 10 and September 29.

The assault charges against Prier came just two years after the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed charges of resisting arrest, driving while revoked and assaulting a police animal against him following a June 22, 2019 pursuit.

Prier allegedly left the scene of an accident on food and took off through the woods.

After a short foot pursuit, Prier was apprehended with the use of a police K9. While attempting to get Prier in custody, Prier repeatedly punched K9 Pax.

Under a plea agreement with the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office, Prier was sentenced to 15 days in jail for assaulting the animal and the other charges were dismissed.

Prier's crimes and the charges he is facing now have all occurred since 2019 after he was released from prison where he was sentenced to four years by Newton County Circuit Court Judge Tim Perigo after pleading guilty to felony abandonment of a corpse in 2015 and to six years by Jasper County Circuit Court Judge David Dally for assault and receiving stolen property with the sentences in all three cases running concurrently.

The sentences were in connection with a series of events in which Prier shot one man twice in the stomach, shot at a woman and abandoned the body of a third person.

During the investigation of that case, Newton County law enforcement noted that Prier was a member of the Joplin Honkies gang.

From the probable cause statement:

Jennifer Miller stated to this detective that she, Thomas Webb, Jared Prier, and two other subjects (Jennifer did not want to identify) were partying at Steven Severs' house at 3689 Cherry Road the night of August 17, 2014.

Jennifer stated that she was sitting on the couch getting ready to do her nails and Thomas was sitting next to her. Jennifer stated that she heard a loud bang and looked up and observed Jared Prier pointing a gun in her and Thomas' direction.

Jennifer said that Jared nearly shot me in the head and actually nicked her right hand with a bullet causing it to bleed a lot. Jennifer stated that Thomas jumped up and ran around the table and that Jared approached him and shot Thomas twice in the stomach. Jennifer stated that she ran to the door and exited the residence and ran to the south side of the property to a trailer that Steven Severs' father, Lester Severs, resides inside.

Jennifer stated that she and Lester then walked back to the residence and Jared Prier met them in the doorway. Jennifer stated that Letser asked Jared why he began shooting inside his son's residence and that Jared advised that he did so because he believed Thomas was a "rat." Jennifer stated that Dennis "Nathan" Meyer then showed up at the residence ready to party, not knowing that the shooting had just happened.

Jennifer stated that once Dennis "Nathan" Meyer was advised of the shooting, he gave Jared a ride away from the residence. Jennifer stated that while she had been gone to get Lester to come down to the residence, Thomas had fled to the vehicle he had driven to the residence and drove over a few driveways to where Jennifer could still see the tail lights of his vehicle.

When this detective located Jared Prier and asked what had occurred, Jared states that he was not present at the Cherry Road address that evening, that he believed Dennis "Nathan" Meyer had shot Thomas Webb.

Prier's seven-year sentence came just 26 months after Judge Perigo sentenced him to seven years in prison after Prier pleaded guilty to felony assault, then suspended the sentence and placed him on probation for five years.

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