Missouri AG joins fight to restore NCAA records to top female athletes

(From Attorney General Andrew Bailey)

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey joined Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and 26 other states and territories in demanding that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reinstate the records, titles, awards, and recognitions rightfully earned by top female athletes but stripped away under the Biden Administration’s policies that allowed biological males to compete in women’s categories.

“These women champions earned those records. They trained, competed, and won, only to have their victories stolen by male athletes,” said Attorney General Andrew Bailey. “Biological reality matters. The NCAA’s decision to erase women’s achievements in favor of male competitors is a grave injustice that violates the intent of Title IX and undermines the integrity of women’s sports. Missouri is demanding that the NCAA correct this wrong and restore what rightfully belongs to America’s female champions.”

“Female collegiate athletes trained, competed, and triumphed- only to see their recognitions stripped away and devalued by unfair policies that ignored biology,” said Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am grateful to be joined by my colleagues from across the country and the Trump administration as we support these women and urge that their records be corrected, restoring the honors they earned.”

In the letter, the Attorneys General argue, “The policies that were created, promoted, and encouraged by the Biden Administration and the NCAA not only enabled biological men to compete against women in sporting events across the country, but denied deserving women the recognitions they had earned in events that you managed…. While we appreciate the steps the NCAA has taken since then, there is far more the NCAA can do for the women athletes that have competed and continue to compete in your events.”

The Attorneys General continue, “The NCAA should take this step for former athletes to preserve the integrity of Title IX and show your support for the women harmed by years of bad policy. As your website states, ‘Regardless of where they start, student-athletes strive to end each season at one of the NCAA’s 90 championships in 24 sports.’ Women athletes strived, succeeded, and were cheated of what they earned.”

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has been a staunch advocate for female athletes, signing executive orders that support women’s sports and prioritize Title IX. In February, the U.S. Department of Education also penned a letter asking the NCAA to validate these recognitions.

“I will always stand up for the women and girls who are being pushed to the sidelines by unfair and unlawful policies. The NCAA must act now to restore fairness and give these top athletes the recognition they rightfully earned,” concluded Attorney General Andrew Bailey.

In addition to Attorney General Bailey, Attorneys General from the following states and territories joined the letter: Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.

You can read the full letter here.

Lawmakers created a teacher seat on Missouri’s education board. It’s been vacant for 7 years

By Annelise Hanshaw

Missouri Independent

The Missouri State Board of Education has an empty seat, chronically vacant since lawmakers created a position for a teacher to advise the board seven years ago.

Like the other board members, the spot is appointed by the governor. But former Gov. Mike Parson, who took office shortly before the seat was created, never chose someone for the position. And thus far, Gov. Mike Kehoe hasn’t either.

“We would like to see an active classroom teacher be on the state board to provide that perspective of someone who’s in the classroom now and say what the immediate needs of educators and students are in the classroom,” Mark Jones, communications director for the Missouri branch of the National Education Association, told The Independent.

The State Board of Education, at its board retreat in July, discussed the vacancy during a discussion of the board’s legal responsibilities.

“This position still hasn’t been appointed, and I don’t know if there are any plans to do that at this point,” Sarah Madden, general counsel for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, told the board.

Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, a board member from Pasadena Hills, questioned why the seat was empty.

“I would hope there’s a sense of urgency,” she said.

Madden responded that she didn’t have an answer for why the position has never been filled.

Despite the position being largely unpaid apart from expense reimbursement and lacking voting authority, teachers have been willing to step up.

“Those teachers that are there every day in the classroom, they have that firsthand knowledge, so they’re able to share that with the board,” said Matthew Michelson, director of education policy at Missouri State Teachers Association. “A lot of them would want to do that, and they would want to be able to explain how decisions impact classroom teachers or how it impacts the profession.”

Jones said he knows two former Missouri Teacher of the Year awardees who have inquired about becoming the teacher member but never got tapped to join the board.

State law requires that they must be an “active classroom teacher” with at least five years of experience. The requirement to be an active teacher is important, Michelson told The Independent, because the state of education moves quickly.

“Even if you took a teacher from 2019 pre-COVID and you put them on the state board, I don’t know that they would have the same perspective as someone who was in the classroom last year,” he said. “Things have just evolved so quickly, so having someone that is currently in the classroom and that is dealing with the issues of today is really important.”

The other board members are barred from having direct ties to the classroom, with statute restricting them from being “connected, either as an official or as an employee, with any public, private, or denominational school, college or university.”

The idea for a teacher representative came over a decade ago, Michelson said, with a member of the teacher’s association pitching it. Then-state Rep. Becky Ruth, a Republican from Festus and a past president of the teachers association, took the idea to the state legislature in 2015.

Her original bill asked for voters to weigh in on requiring three members of the eight-member board to be educators. By 2018, the legislation evolved to propose adding a teacher as a non-voting member, and it passed as part of an omnibus education bill.

“Ultimately it ended up being more of an advisory position because, frankly, that is what the legislature was more inclined to get something passed with,” Michelson said.

At the time, he never would have imagined that the seat would sit empty for years.

Board vacancies are not rare in Missouri. According to a state website dedicated to boards and commissions, there are over 1,000 positions left vacant or filled with a member serving on an expired term.

Some boards and commissions, like the Citizen’s Land Development Cooperative Commission, are completely vacant. But the State Board of Education rarely has its voting-member positions unfilled.

“It just depends on what the priorities of the governor are and what other boards and commissions he needs to fill,” Jones said. “But I think seven years is a long time to go without a direct teacher voice to the board.”

The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump White House pressing Missouri Republicans to redraw congressional map

By Rudi Keller

Missouri Independent

The Trump White House is ratcheting up pressure on Missouri Republicans reluctant to pursue a new map that could give the GOP seven of the state’s eight seats in Congress.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowling Green said he received a call Friday afternoon from the White House after staff read his comments published Thursday in The Independent.

“We do redistricting every 10 years,” Perkins said Thursday. “We’ve already done that. To do it again would be out of character with the way Missouri operates.”

During the call Friday, he said, after verifying he was quoted accurately, he was told it was important to President Donald Trump.

“They said ‘well, we’re really going to try to do that’ and that might change the dynamic of it,” Perkins said.

The presumed target for the change is Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City, who has held the 5th District seat since 2005 and was re-elected in November with 60% of the vote.

Cleaver’s office did not respond to an email seeking comment on the White House effort to defeat him by altering his district.

Missouri’s other Democrat, U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell of St. Louis, represents the 1st District.

To achieve a delegation with seven Republicans, Kansas City would need to be sliced into multiple districts instead of being encompassed by one. Neighborhoods heavy with Democratic votes would be added adjoining districts — the 5th shares a border with the 6th District, held by Republican U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Tarkio, and the 4th District, held by Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Alford of Raymore — or combined with enough Republican votes to make the 5th District a safe GOP seat.

The White House political staff who made the call, Perkins said, told him they would be calling every GOP member of the Missouri House delegation as well as Gov. Mike Kehoe to push the project forward.

Kehoe’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Nine indicted in Southwest Missouri gambling conspiracy

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Nine individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged involvement in an illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri. Each of the defendants face multiple charges in the 72-count indictment.

Rahulkumar D. Patel, 40, a citizen of India residing in the state of Washington, Manishkumar M. Patel, 44, a citizen of India residing in the state of Georgia, Mitulkumar M. Barot, 40, of Georgia, Sunilkumar N. Patel, 52, a citizen of India residing in the state of New York, Tushar R. Patel, 39, of Georgia, Azghar Ali, 51, of New York, Harshadkumar S. Chaudhari, 38, a citizen of India, residing in Colorado, Vipul A. Patel, 40, of Arkansas, and Mohammed Iphtekar Ali Ajgar, 50, of Georgia were each charged in a 72-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on May 14, 2025. 

The superseding indictment replaces an indictment returned against Rahulkumar D. Patel, on Dec. 10, 2024, and includes additional charges and defendants. The superseding indictment was unsealed and made public following the arrest of several defendants and in advance of certain defendants’ arraignments on July 23 and 24, 2025.

“Illegal gambling operations affect the citizens of the neighborhoods and communities where they are located as well as the local economy. We worked closely with our law enforcement partners to shut down this criminal conspiracy and bring those responsible to justice. This case is an example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together to tackle organized criminal activity,” said Acting United States Attorney Jeff Ray.

“What began as a local investigation quickly expanded into a large, multi-jurisdictional case resulting in numerous indictments and a significant positive impact across our community,” Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams said. “We’re grateful for the strong partnerships we have with federal agencies that made it possible to build a case of this scale.”

“This wasn’t some low-level gambling scheme. It was an organized, multi-million-dollar criminal network that operated brazenly and believed it could stay one step ahead of law enforcement,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito. “They were mistaken. Through precise coordination, relentless investigation, and cross-agency teamwork, we dismantled their operation piece by piece-locally and overseas. To those still involved in this kind of crime: we’re watching, we’re tracking, and we will shut you down.”

“Today’s charges reflect the dedication of law enforcement – especially in Springfield, Joplin, and across Southwest Missouri - to hold those who violate the law accountable. We especially thank and commend our law enforcement partners for their persistent and unwavering commitment to this case,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus.

The federal indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The State of Missouri has established regulations controlling the operation of electronic gaming devices. Certain gambling devices and slot machines are prohibited by Missouri and Federal law.

According to the indictment, the defendants ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades.

Between April 24, 2023, and Aug. 28, 2023, Barot registered six businesses online with the Missouri Secretary of State: Big Win Arcade, LLC; Big Win Arcade 2023, LLC; Spin Hitters 1, LLC; Spin Hitters, LLC; Vegas City Arcade, LLC; and Vegas Arcade, LLC. The indictment alleges that the defendants then used these businesses to fraudulently apply for business license applications filed with the cities of Springfield, Joplin, and Branson West, and to obtain utilities contracts, lease agreements, and business incorporation documents filed with the State of Missouri.

The defendants hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7th St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West.

Rahulkumar D. Patel, Manishkumar M. Patel, Tushar R. Patel, Vipul A. Patel, and Ajgar participated in WhatsApp group chats where they communicated about the operation of the illegal gambling arcades from May 31, 2023, to March 11, 2024.

The indictment alleges that the defendants transported the proceeds from the illegal gambling locations to several states to promote the ongoing illegal activity. The defendants hid the proceeds of their gambling ring by depositing them in various personal bank accounts within the United States and the Republic of India. Over $9.5 million in US currency was laundered by this organization in a little over three years.

Rahulkumar D. Patel, Manishkumar M. Patel, Sunilkumar N. Patel, Tushar R. Patel, Barot, Ali, Chaudhari, and Ajgar are all charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and at least one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Rahulkumar D. Patel, Manishkumar M. Patel, Sunilkumar N. Patel, Tushar R. Patel, Barot, Ali, and Ajgar are all charged with money laundering. Rahulkumar D. Patel, Manishkumar M. Patel, and Ali are also charged with depositing or transferring more than $10,000 of funds derived from illegal gambling and wire fraud in a single transaction.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is the result of a lengthy investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) involving the transnational organized crime group with ties to India. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark who was significantly assisted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Oliver prior to his retirement in June of this year. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.

Missouri AG sues Planned Parenthood, claims it misled patients over safety of abortion pill

By Jacob Richey

Columbia Missourian

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is suing the national Planned Parenthood organization over its claims regarding the abortion drug mifepristone.

Bailey filed the lawsuit against the Planned Parenthood Federation of America on Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court.

The lawsuit argues Planned Parenthood’s national organization has misled consumers about the safety of mifepristone, which is used in a regimen with another drug to expel a pregnancy.

The lawsuit seeks more than $1.8 million in civil penalties, up to $1,000 in damages or restitution for every Missouri woman Planned Parenthood provided abortion pills to in the past five years, reimbursement to the state for Medicaid and other taxpayer-funded emergency care resulting from abortion pill complications, and a court order for Planned Parenthood to stop certain advertisements for mifepristone.

Mifepristone is a drug used for medication abortions. Planned Parenthood says the drug is safe and effective, but Bailey points to a small percentage of patients who need emergency care after having a medication abortion.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration information and label for the medication says it can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections or bleeding, but that label also says U.S. clinical studies found serious adverse effects in less than 0.5% of patients.

Bailey’s lawsuit points to that label, along with other studies that say 4.6% of women who undergo a medication abortion may need emergency care after the procedure.

The lawsuit takes aim at Planned Parenthood’s comparison between mifepristone and other common medications like Tylenol, penicillin and Viagra. An archived page from Planned Parenthood’s website, which is linked in the lawsuit, said medication abortions are safer than those over-the-counter drugs.

The lawsuit says that claim is misleading, if not false, for reasons including the abortion pill and the other drugs having different uses.

Hackett Hot Wings, Zip's fail Joplin Health Department inspections

 Hackett's Hot Wings, 520 S. Main Street, and Zip's #3, 1201 S. Range Line Road, failed Joplin Health Department inspections, according to information posted on the department website.

Hackett's Hot Wings had two priority violations and three core violations.

The priority violations were for having potentially hazardous foods being cold held above 41 degrees and for the bar dish washer not dispensing chlorine sanitizer at detectable levels.

Core violations cited were for having debris accumulations on lids of bulk storage bins, debris buildup on floors in dry storage and for having grease/oil residue accumulating on the piping above the fryers.

Zip's was cited for three priority violations, two core violations and an administrative violation.

The priority violations were for having milk in the walk-in cooler being cold held above 41 degrees, the handwashing sink was not operating and available for use and herbicide and a container of gasoline were being stored over the three-compartment sink in the back room.

The core violations were for not having hand towels and soap available at the employee handwashing sink.

 

An administrative violation was assessed for not having the health permit posted conspicuously for customer viewing.

***

Establishments that passed inspections this week included the following:

Landmark Hospital, 2040 W. 32nd Street

Wilder's Steakhouse, 1216 S. Main Street

Red Lobster, 3131 S. Range Line Road

Waffle House, 3506 S. Range Line Road

Latin Fusion, 1520 S. Main Street

Snak-Atak, 4301 S. Main Street

Chick-fil-A, 2127 S. Range Line Road

Pineapple Bliss, 1021 E. 20th Street

4th Street Bowl, 1419 W 4th Street

Dairy Queen Grill and Chill, 2015 E 32nd Street

Lalo's Taqueria, 2501 E. 7th Street

Salvation Army, 320 E. 8th Street

Land purchase discussed during Carthage R-9 Board meeting, fifth grade teacher resigns

(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, July 21, 2025, 6:00 pm, at the Carthage South Technical Center – Community Room. Present were Board members Mr. Ryan Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Dr. Mark Westhoff, Mr. Jeff Jones, Ms. Maria Sanchez, and Mr. Patrick Scott. Ms. Niki Cloud was absent. Mr. Ryan Collier led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous meetings, payment of bills, district financial report, and set date for tax rate hearing. 

Ms. Maria Sanchez provided a Carthage R-9 School Foundation update stating scholarships and major saver campaigns for the 2025-2026 school year are being worked on. 

Dr. Matt Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, provided the Board information regarding the request for adoption of the professional development handbook for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, provided the Board information regarding facility use priority and fee structure for their review and consideration of approval at the August 18, 2025 board meeting. 

Dr. Luke Boyer, Superintendent, spoke regarding the proposed purchase agreement authorizing the purchase of real estate. Mr. Collier read to the Board a “Public Disclosure of Conflict of Interest” provided by Board Member, Lora Phelps, in regards to agenda item “Consider Proposed Purchase Agreement Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate."

The Public Disclosure of Conflict of Interest stated the following and is signed by Lora Phelps: 

“July 21, 2025, Public Disclosure of Conflict of Interest, To Carthage R-9 Board of Education: My name is Lora Phelps, and I am the Secretary for the Carthage R-9 School Board. The Carthage R-9 School Board has proposed to purchase a parcel of 25 acres owned by the William Phelps Family Trust, located at 1210 East Airport Drive in Carthage, Missouri, for a sale price of $400,000. The trust belongs to my husband, William (Bill) Phelps, and I am a contingent beneficiary of the trust. The Board plans to discuss and vote on this matter during its meeting on July 21, 2025. Because my husband and I have a financial interest in the sale of the property, I will recuse myself from any discussion or vote related to the Board’s decision of whether or not to purchase the property.” 

Mr. William (Bill) Phelps and Mrs. Lora Phelps excused themselves from the board meeting. Dr. Luke Boyer and the Board reviewed and discussed the real estate purchase. Dr. Boyer asked the board to consider the purchase of the parcel of 25 acres owned by the William Phelps Family Trust, located at 1210 East Airport Drive in Carthage, Missouri, for the sum of $400,000 and authorize administration to proceed with the preparation of documents to complete the real estate purchase. Mr. William (Bill) Phelps and Mrs. Lora Phelps returned to the board meeting. Dr. Boyer presented his report to the Board. 

The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal, personnel, and student matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (3), and (6) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. In closed session the Board approved the following personnel actions: 

Approved the employment of support and substitute staff as presented contingent upon receiving a clear criminal record check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a clear check of the Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services for all employees new to the district:

Support Hire

Lilian Hernandez Pelico, cook, Sixth Grade Center

Caelyn Samuelson, marketing intern, Carthage Tech Center-South

Holliday Foster, special education paraprofessional, Steadley Elementary

Anthony Miller, bus driver, transportation

Jonathan Brinkhoff, special education paraprofessional, Carthage High School

Kayla Hole, Title 1 instructional assistant, Steadley Elementary

Abigail O'Brien, cook, Carthage Junior High School

Veylin Lopez, cook, Sixth Grade Center

Michele Edwards, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Dakota Sisseck, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Kimberly Thomas, cook, Pleasant Valley Elementary

Dawna Middleton, Tiger Prep paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Sky Ladd, choir accompanist, Carthage Junior High School

Claudia Lopez, cook, Carthage Junior High School

Amilia Etcheson, cook, Carthage High School

Savannah Ruth, special education paraprofessional, Columbian Elementary

Ronna Patterson, PAT screener, Parents as Teachers

Taylor Harmon, cook, Carthage Junior High School

Jeremy Caddick, bus driver, transportation

Certified Resignation

Nicola Higgs, fifth grade teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center

Support Resignation

Paige Blankenship, student worker, district office

Kristen Silvers, cook, Columbian Elementary

Several indicted for roles in multi-million-dollar SW MO illegal gambling ring

(From the Springfield Police Department)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Springfield Police Department and several other law
enforcement agencies, will host a news conference on Friday, July 25, at 2 p.m., in the 4th floor
conference room at the Western District Office located at 901 St. Louis St. 

The news conference will address the recent indictment of several individuals charged as part of a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling ring operating in southwest Missouri.

(Note: The Joplin Police Department will be among the law enforcement agencies represented at the news conference. More information to come.)

Kehoe: Trump approves major disaster declaration for Dade, Vernon counties

(From Gov. Mike Kehoe)

Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that President Donald J. Trump has approved Missouri's request for a major disaster declaration for five southwest Missouri counties in response to the severe storms, straight-line winds, hail, heavy rains, and flooding that occurred throughout Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26. This is Missouri’s fifth major disaster declaration since March.

“For the past four months, communities across Missouri have been heavily damaged by continuing severe storms, with some of the most devastated areas affected once again by this four-day severe weather event,” Governor Kehoe said. “I spoke personally with President Trump last night, and we appreciate his approval of this federal assistance, which will provide millions of dollars to assist in rebuilding infrastructure that is vital to the recovery of the impacted communities.”

The President's action makes the FEMA Public Assistance program available to local governments and qualifying nonprofits for the repair and restoration of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of emergency response costs in Dade, Douglas, Ozark, Vernon, and Webster counties.

Governor Kehoe requested the federal disaster declaration on June 21, following joint Preliminary Damage Assessments that were conducted in early June. Damage and response costs were estimated at more than $13.5 million.

Carthage, Webb City men arrested after standoff in Range Line parking lot

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On July 23, 2025, around 1:11 pm a Joplin Police officer was conducting patrol efforts around 24th and Range Line Road. The patrol officer recognized an individual, later identified as Mark Trease, 30, of Carthage (pictured), in the Lowe's parking lot. Trease had active warrants from Carthage Missouri. 

The police officer attempted to contact Trease before he left the lot. Trease refused to comply with the officer and fled the parking lot in his vehicle.

 

Trease then drove approximately one block away and parked the vehicle in the parking lot of Pinnacle Bank located at 2433 S Range Line Road. Trease again refused to comply with officers and remained in the vehicle. Officers were able to see a second person inside the vehicle, and he also refused to cooperate with officers. 

Additional officers were summoned to the scene to assist. Trease and his passenger, later identified as Sean Gillis, 32, of Webb City, Missouri, continued to refuse to comply with officers.

 
When additional officers arrived, Trease eventually complied with officers and was taken into custody without incident. Shortly after taking Trease into custody, it was learned that Gillis was armed with a handgun, and he continued to refuse to cooperate with officers. 

Due to the active fleeing, refusal to cooperate with officers, the incident being in a heavily populated area with local patrons and businesses, and the fact that the passenger was armed with a gun, Joplin Police Department S.W.A.T. was called to the scene. Joplin officers assisted customers from the bank to safe locations and continued to speak with Gillis.

 
After the Joplin Police Department S.W.A.T. arrived, Gillis eventually complied with officers and was taken into custody without incident.

 
The driver, Mark Trease, was arrested on four outstanding warrants for traffic violations and two warrants for resisting arrest from Carthage, Missouri. Trease was also arrested on two bench warrants for obstruction from the City of Joplin. Charges from today were submitted on Trease for resisting arrest, no valid driver license, and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.

The passenger, Sean Gillis, was arrested for resisting arrest and compliance with the officer for information.

One loaded 9mm handgun was located and seized from the vehicle after Gillis was
taken into custody.

 
At this time, there is no threat to the public regarding this incident.