Clay County Woman Charged After High-Speed Pursuit

A Kansas City-area woman is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say a reported burglary at a home under construction in Liberty led to a high-speed pursuit through Clay County and into Kansas City.

Clay County prosecutors charged Brittany Hamilton on June 27 with second-degree burglary, stealing $750 or more, tampering with a motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing under Missouri’s Valentine’s Law.

According to police reports, Clay County sheriff’s deputies were called June 27 to a burglary in progress at a home under construction in Liberty. Investigators allege Hamilton was stealing windows from inside the garage before leaving the scene in a pickup truck.

A responding deputy later spotted the truck traveling south on Interstate 35 and activated emergency equipment. Police reports say Hamilton did not stop and instead fled at a high rate of speed, prompting a multi-agency pursuit.

Authorities said the pursuit continued southbound on I-35 past Missouri 152, Pleasant Valley Road and the I-435 junction, reaching speeds of about 100 mph. Near Northeast Vivion Road, the truck allegedly accelerated to approximately 110 mph while passing vehicles on the right shoulder.

The chase continued past Northeast Chouteau Trafficway, where police reports allege the driver again used the right shoulder and forced motorists to move out of the way. At Northeast Parvin Road, the Missouri State Highway Patrol took over as the primary pursuing agency as the pursuit crossed into Jackson County.

A short time later, Clay County dispatchers advised that the truck had been found on Genessee Street in Kansas City. Deputies responded to recover the vehicle and contacted Kansas City police, who were searching the area for the occupants.

A records check showed the truck had been reported stolen out of Kansas City. While deputies processed the vehicle, a Kansas City police officer arrived with Hamilton, who had been located and detained nearby. Police reports state that a witness identified Hamilton as the driver of the pickup truck.

Hamilton was taken into custody by deputies and transported to the Clay County Detention Center. The court issued an arrest warrant and set bond at $90,000.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Pursuit Results in Felony Charge for Aggravated Fleeing

Clay County prosecutors charged Raquel M. Tapia on June 12 after an alleged high-speed pursuit that began on northbound Interstate 35 and ended after a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper used a Tactical Vehicle Intervention.

Tapia is charged with aggravated fleeing, a Class D felony under Valentine’s Law, and driving while intoxicated, a Class B misdemeanor. The felony charge is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.

According to police reports, the incident began when a silver Chevrolet sedan allegedly bypassed a traffic stop while traveling 93 mph in a 55-mph zone. After a trooper activated emergency lights, the vehicle allegedly accelerated and continued for several miles, reaching speeds of up to 114 mph while failing to maintain its lane and nearly striking several vehicles.

Investigators said the driver, later identified as Tapia, drove through a red light while turning eastbound onto 152 Highway, then turned southbound onto 291 Highway and reached speeds of up to 113 mph. The pursuit ended near 291 Highway and Leonard Street after a trooper conducted the intervention maneuver.

Police reports state that Tapia allegedly resisted arrest and repeatedly broke free from standard handcuffs, requiring officers to secure her with plastic flex handcuffs. Officers also reported observing multiple physical signs of intoxication and finding several open and empty alcohol containers inside the vehicle.

The court issued an arrest warrant and set Tapia’s bond at $75,000.

“An impaired driver who attempts to evade police creates an unpredictable and potentially deadly situation for innocent members of the public, other drivers, and law enforcement officers. The charges reflect the seriousness of that alleged risk,” Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson said.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Clay County Most Wanted Suspect Apprehended

Eric E. Frazer

Deputies arrested their Most Wanted suspect Friday evening, which led to an assault on a Sheriff’s Office canine and multiple deputies requiring medical attention.

Deputies had been trying to take 54-year-old Eric E. Frazer into custody since December 2025, when he failed to appear in court for drug trafficking charges. He also failed to appear for a Valentine’s Law charge for fleeing a lawful stop. In just the last month, he fled from deputies two additional times. The Sheriff’s Office placed him on its Most Wanted list on April 22.

Investigation revealed Frazer was at a relative’s home in the 16800 block of Ragsdale Road at about 6 p.m. May 1. The relatives exited the home and allowed deputies to go inside to apprehend Frazer. Deputies deployed a drone for an initial search of the house, and after seeing nothing, went inside with K9 Argos. Argos directed them to a bathroom that had an opening to the attic. The drone showed Frazer hiding in the attic, but he refused to come out. Deputies did not know whether he was armed. After several warnings to Frazer, K9 Argos went into the attic to assist with the apprehension.

Frazer fought Argos, lying on top of him and forcing his head into the sheetrock, then pulling hard on the leash around his neck, causing the leash line to break. Fearing for everyone’s safety, deputies in the living room below cut a hole in the ceiling to get Argos and Frazer out. Argos fell through, with one deputy able to catch him just enough to break his fall. Deputies then pulled Frazer down. After being treated for his bite wounds at the hospital, Frazer is now in custody at the Clay County Detention Center with no bond. In addition to his original warrants, Frazer is now charged with:

• Felony aggravated fleeing a stop

• Felony resisting arrest

• Misdemeanor assault on a law enforcement animal

• Four misdemeanor charges of assault on law enforcement

Additional charges may be filed as investigation continues.

The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office states this is the first time they have filed a charge under Max’s Law, which became effective in Missouri in August 2024. The law makes it a crime to injure or kill a police animal.

K9 Argos’ handler immediately took him to Long Veterinary Hospital to be evaluated for injuries and treated for inhaling insulation. Four deputies also had to be evaluated and treated at the hospital for various minor injuries sustained during the apprehension.  

High-Speed Chase Leads to Felony Charge

Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson

Clay County Prosecutors filed charges on April 20, against Reginald Lampkin Jr. for the Class D Felony of Aggravated Fleeing. This charge carries a possible sentence of up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The incident began in Liberty, MO, when Lampkin allegedly ran a red light at high speed and nearly hit another vehicle while driving a white Mazda CX9. After officers tried to stop him, Lampkin reportedly slowed down but then sped away, leading police on a 13-minute chase that stretched across Liberty, Kansas City, and Riverside. The pursuit covered 23 miles and reached speeds of 102 MPH.

Police reports indicate that Lampkin drove recklessly, weaving through traffic and ignoring red lights. The chase ended on Interstate 635 near the Kansas state line, where Lampkin allegedly abandoned his car and ran across busy highway lanes. Officers say he ignored commands to stop but was taken into custody after an officer used a Taser.

The Court has set Lampkin’s bond at $100,000. Authorities thanked the Liberty, Riverside, and Missouri State Highway Patrol departments for their teamwork during the investigation.

Officials emphasized the importance of stopping when signaled by law enforcement to keep everyone safe. The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office says it is committed to seeking justice through legal proceedings.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Prosecutor Files 76 Cases Under Valentine’s Law in First Year

Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson

Nearly a year after the implementation of Valentine’s Law, the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office reports that 76 cases have been filed under the new statute, averaging one case every four days since it took effect on August 28, 2024.

Valentine’s Law, named in honor of Detective Antonio Valentine—who was killed during a high-speed pursuit in St. Louis County—targets individuals who flee from law enforcement in a motor vehicle at high speeds or in a manner that poses a substantial risk of death or serious injury. The law classifies such offenses as Class D felonies, but the charges escalate to a Class B felony if someone is injured and a Class A felony if someone is killed as a result of the pursuit.

In the first eleven months of the law’s enforcement, five defendants have been sentenced, with prison terms ranging from three to ten years. Of those, four were involved in vehicle crashes during their attempts to escape, while one was apprehended after police used tire deflation devices.

Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson emphasized the serious risks posed by fleeing suspects. “It is unacceptable for someone to endanger our community and law enforcement officers in an attempt to escape a traffic stop,” Thompson said. “Not only do they put innocent lives at risk — they only make their situation worse.”

Under Valentine’s Law, convictions carry a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison, with no eligibility for probation or parole.

“Our goal is to hold offenders accountable and send an unmistakable message that dangerous criminal conduct carries serious consequences,” Thompson added. “I commend Missouri state officials for providing us with an additional tool to keep Clay County safe. Public safety requires all levels of government working together.”

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.