Former Seneca resident faces probation revocation following Newton County felony charges

A former Seneca resident who was on supervised probation after serving his sentence after pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking and weapons charge is being held without bond following a preliminary probation revocation hearing today in U. S. District Court in Springfield. A final hearing will be scheduled at a later date.

Though court records do not indicate the reason for the revocation hearing for Joshua Kimball, 32, the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed four felony charges against Kimball- resisting arrest, possession of burglary tools, possession of methamphetamine and driving while revoked.

The probable cause statement for the charges indicate Kimball, whose address is listed as Vinita, Oklahoma, was arrested after he was clocked doing 66 in a 50 mile per hour zone.

From the probable cause statement:

As the vehicle was passing me I activated my overhead lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop and at this time I observed the vehicle accelerate at a faster rate still heading eastbound. I then notified dispatch that I was going to be in pursuit. 

The vehicle continued eastbound until it reached Hottle Springs road where the vehicle turned southbound. The vehicle was driving on the wrong side of the road at this time fleeing at speeds reaching 80 mph. The vehicle continued on Hottle Springs until we reached Redbud when the vehicle turned eastbound, the vehicle then turned southbound on Crane Dr leaving the roadway, eastbound on Highway DD, the vehicle then tried to make a northbound turn onto Drake Dr where it failed to navigate the turn and left the roadway to the east striking several mailboxes and then a large tree. 

The driver then bailed out of the vehicle jumping out the passenger side window and fleeing on foot. I gave chase on foot and was able to close the distance where I was able to safely deploy the tazer and the tazer was a good hit granting muscle neuromuscular incapacitation causing the fleeing suspect to fall to the ground. 

Once I got up to the driver he was trying to sit up to start moving again and a distractionary strike was given to subject and another 5 seconds of the tazer and after this I was able to gain compliance from the subject and he placed his hands behind his back and was secured into double locking handcuffs. 

The driver was at this time identified as Joshua Kimball a subject I was familiar with from past encounters, who I knew actively had several policing agencies looking for him. Joshua had on rubber gloves and a ski mask wrapped around his neck. 

Once I noticed the gloves on his hands, Joshua started trying to rip the gloves off. I told him not to do this he continued and when I grabbed at his hands to make him stop he turned into me and was taken to the ground where he was held until backup arrived. 

Inside the vehicle I located several sound systems with cut wires, catalytic converters, a Stihl· industrial chain saw that had the serial number defaced, bolt cutters, 1 rubber smoking pipe, 1 glass smoking pipe {Field tested positive for meth), and another face mask. 

I also located a baggie of crystal-like substance on the driver side floor bored that the field test came back inconclusive on so It will be sent to a lab for identification. 

Kimball was sentenced to seven years in a federal prison after pleading guilty in 2019.