KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with the double-fatality crash during a police chase, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.
Melvin T. Brown, 26, faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree, Resisting Arrest, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree.
According to court records, on March 22, a police officer followed a vehicle that had, upon check, shown to be stolen, according to Independence Police.
The officer attempted to coordinate the deployment of stop sticks to prevent a pursuit. But the vehicle continued, and a pursuit occurred in Independence, with rates of speed touching 90 mph until a crash occurred at Scott Avenue and Winner Road, when the Jeep driven by the defendant struck a motorcycle, killing driver Jake Jackson Monteer and passenger Jessica Marie Fields.
The defendant's vehicle continued until officers attempted to stop it again. Officers found that the vehicle was indeed stolen, and an officer observed signs of impairment. A blood sample was taken and a preliminary test showed presence of drugs. Brown is being held on a $300,000 bond.