05/29/2026
5 Valentine's Law Defendants Charged Since Last Friday
The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office is aggressively pursuing felony charges against individuals who choose to flee from law enforcement and endanger our community. Under Missouri’s Valentine’s Law, fleeing in a motor vehicle at high speeds is a felony offense that carries mandatory prison time and escalating penalties. In the last seven days, our office has charged five separate defendants under this law following high-speed pursuits that put the lives of citizens and officers at risk.
On May 22, Christian Hill allegedly fled from the Missouri State Highway Patrol after an officer clocked his white Toyota Sequoia traveling 90 MPH in a 55 MPH zone on northbound Interstate 35. Police reports state that when the officer attempted a traffic stop near Missouri Highway 210, additional troopers joined the pursuit as Hill accelerated up to 121 MPH, driving erratically and weaving through light traffic. The Toyota abruptly exited at Chouteau Parkway, ran a red light, struck a concrete island, and crashed into a wooded area. Hill allegedly fled into the woods on foot, prompting law enforcement to set up a perimeter and deploy a drone from the Clay County Sheriff's Office. Following a brief foot chase, troopers cornered and arrested Hill. He has been charged with the Class D Felony of Aggravated Fleeing.
On May 23, Bryson Noble allegedly fled from the Missouri Highway Patrol and initiated a 40-mile pursuit after operating a motorcycle at 80 MPH in a 55 MPH zone on Interstate 35 near Brighton Avenue. According to police reports, Noble evaded the attempted traffic stop and flipped up his license plate to conceal the registration. During the chase, the motorcycle reached speeds of 115 MPH and passed vehicles on the shoulders inside an active construction zone. Noble exited Interstate 35 at Route BB in Cameron, Missouri, where the motorcycle lost traction on the ramp and crashed. Noble was taken into custody without further incident and has been charged with the Class D Felony of Aggravated Fleeing.
On May 24, Alejandro Sanchez-Jasso was charged after a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper intercepted his black Acura RLX on northbound Interstate 35. Police reports indicate another trooper had lost sight of a second speeding vehicle before Sanchez-Jasso passed a patrol vehicle at a high rate of speed on the right shoulder and fled a traffic stop at Parvin Road, running a stop sign. The Acura reached speeds up to 130 MPH, weaving through traffic until it slowed near North Kansas City Police vehicles at E. 16th Avenue. This allowed a trooper to catch up and execute a successful tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) maneuver near Levee Road, spinning the vehicle out. Immediately after stopping, Sanchez-Jasso allegedly threw a beer bottle out of the window. Troopers detected a strong odor of alcohol, observed bloodshot eyes, and located more unopened beer inside the vehicle. Sanchez-Jasso has been charged with the Class D Felony of Aggravated Fleeing and a misdemeanor charge of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
On May 26, Gabriel Michael Munoz was taken into custody following a high-speed pursuit that allegedly reached speeds exceeding 130 MPH on Interstate 35. Police reports state that after fleeing a traffic stop initiated by Missouri State Highway Patrol, the suspect’s vehicle was stopped via a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) maneuver, resulting in a collision with a barrier. Munoz faces charges of Aggravated Fleeing and operating a vehicle above the legal alcohol limit.
On May 28, co-defendants Jack Leech and Zackory Phillips were charged following an incident that began on May 27 at the Extended Stay hotel at 4301 N. Corrington Avenue. Police reports indicate that a Clay County Sheriff's detective spotted a white 2024 BMW, which had been reported stolen out of Clay County on May 15. Phillips was initially observed in the driver's seat and Leech in the passenger seat. When the detective blocked the BMW's front bumper, Phillips and Leech allegedly climbed over the center console to switch seats before Leech rammed the patrol car to flee the parking lot.
The BMW then traveled northbound in the southbound lanes of N. Randolph Road at approximately 65 MPH in a 45 MPH zone, allegedly forcing oncoming traffic off the roadway. Police reports state that even after a detective successfully deployed stop sticks near 48th Street, the BMW continued fleeing, driving the wrong way down Worlds of Fun Avenue at speeds reaching 100 MPH. The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns, but reports note that witnesses tracked the BMW to a dead end near the Google data center construction site at 10000 NE Parvin Road.
According to the probable cause statement, officers flooded the area and apprehended a female passenger near the parking lot, Leech near the BMW by an electric substation entrance, and Phillips who was hiding in nearby brush after a K9 deployment announcement. Leech has been charged with the Class D Felony of Aggravated Fleeing and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree. Phillips has been charged with Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree and Class E Felony of Resisting Arrest.
"One dangerous pursuit is too many, but we are seeing an unacceptable increase in the number of these offenses in the Greater Kansas City area and surrounding communities. We remain committed to aggressively prosecuting these cases to deter dangerous behavior and hold offenders accountable." says Prosecutor Zach Thompson.
Thank you to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's Office for investigating and submitting these cases to our office.
The information above was obtained from the court-filed probable cause statements in cases 26CY-CR01228, 26CY-CR01230, 26CY-CR01231, 26CY-CR01642, 26CY-CR01643, and 26CY-CR01667. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The charges are allegations only and do not constitute evidence of guilt.
