ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A Berkeley, Missouri, man was charged this week for fleeing from police during a traffic stop and causing a high-speed chase with a child in his vehicle.

According to the St. Louis County Police Department’s probable cause statement, the incident began at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 10600 block of Lewis and Clark Boulevard. A detective sergeant claims to have witnessed a 2016 Nissan Maxima speeding and blowing through a stop light.

The detective activated the lights on their police vehicle and attempted to pull the Maxima over. The driver of the Maxima, later identified as William Hampton, 44, sped off and attempted to evade police by weaving in and out of traffic.

The detective was able to anticipate Hampton’s path and deployed a tire-deflation device on the roadway. However, Hampton swerved to avoid the device and drove directly toward the detective.

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Police claim the detective attempted to dive out of the way but was clipped on his right arm and injured.

The Maxima continued on but was eventually stopped due to deflated tires. Hampton was eventually taken into custody.

Arresting officers discovered a 10-year-old child inside the Maxima.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Hampton with attempted first-degree on a special victim, armed criminal action, resisting arrest by fleeing, endangering the welfare of a child, and resisting arrest for a felony. Hampton is being held on a $200,000 cash-only bond.

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