News
January-27-2026 Stop Stick News: Puncturing the Plan: How Stop Stick® Terminated the Pursuit
January 27, 2026
By: Zach Madden
Category: Customer Stories, Stop Stick News
Puncturing the Plan: How Stop Stick® Terminated the Pursuit
With over 500,000 vehicles equipped across the U.S. and worldwide, and with over 50,000 documented pursuits ended successfully and safely, Stop Stick® is law enforcement’s most trusted brand. Therefore, keep reading for more Stop Stick News: Puncturing the Plan:
We are committed to serving those who serve us by providing training and proven safe, simple-to-use, and effective tools. Now, let’s dive into the January Stop Stick News
01/26/2026
1. Puncturing the Plan: Man dumped woman’s body in his neighbor’s yard after fatally shooting her during argument – Missouri
Law and Crime by Jamie Frevele
A Missouri man tried to claim that he did not know the woman who was found dead in his neighbor’s yard. Now he is charged with her murder.
Ephron Long, 54, was arrested on Friday after being charged with the murder of 40-year-old Lindsey Smith, whose body was found in the backyard of a home in St. Louis, Missouri, on Jan. 19. According to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, Long lived in a basement apartment in the home next door, where a witness told police they heard a man and a woman “arguing” days before Smith was found. That argument was allegedly followed by a single gunshot.
Smith was found “partially frozen,” her head in a pool of blood, in the backyard of the home next door. Police said she had started decomposing before she was exposed to the extreme cold.
Once police identified Smith, they searched her phone and found that she had been communicating with Long. On Jan. 3, police said Smith and Long exchanged a number of text messages, including one in which Smith told Long that she no longer felt safe at his home. Police said Long called Smith the same day. After that, the two did not communicate anymore.
After police obtained a search warrant for Long’s home, they found blood spatter outside the entrance to the apartment and additional blood on the railing next to the steps that led to the door.
Police started following Long and found him on Friday. When detectives tried to pull Long over, he allegedly fled and ran a red light as he attempted to evade arrest. The detectives deployed spike strips and were able to detain Long and take him into custody.
01/26/2026
2. Puncturing the Plan: Fleeing Driver Crashes Through Fences, Hits House in Montana – Montana
News Talk KGVO by Nick Chrestenson
On January 17, 2026, Missoula County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 6:05 AM report of a white pickup truck crashing through fences and striking a Clinton home. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a family standing outside the damaged residence.
Immediately following this discovery, a white Toyota Tacoma attempted to strike a patrol vehicle head-on by swerving into the wrong lane. The deputy successfully avoided the collision by driving into a ditch, then turned around to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver, 56-year-old Charles Levine, fled at speeds of 80 mph in a 50 mph zone.
Eventually, Levine stopped on East Mullan, but the situation escalated quickly. As the deputy exited his patrol car to issue commands, Levine shifted into reverse and rammed the police vehicle. The impact forced the patrol car backward, striking the deputy with the open driver-side door. Consequently, the deputy fired two rounds at the vehicle, hitting the rear passenger side.
Despite the gunfire, Levine fled the scene heading east. Meanwhile, another deputy positioned spike strips further down Mullan Road. As a result, the speeding Toyota drove over the strips, successfully puncturing the tires and ending the pursuit.
01/26/2026
3. Puncturing the Plan: Pickens County Deputies Deploy Spike Strips To Stop Vehicle Pursuit – Alabama
Patch by Ryan Phillips
CARROLLTON, AL — Pickens County Sheriff Jordan Powell says a man has been arrested after a high-speed pursuit Sunday evening.
Powell said deputies initially responded to a report of a subject attempting to access a bank that was closed due to winter weather conditions.
When officers made contact, the individual fled in a vehicle, leading law enforcement on a pursuit.
Powell said multiple law enforcement agencies across Pickens County coordinated efforts during the pursuit, which ended after officers safely deployed spike strips to stop the vehicle.
The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
01/24/2026
4. Puncturing the Plan: Two Binghamton residents face charges after throwing objects at patrols, attempting to flee – New York
WBNG by Kevin Quinn
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WBNG) — The Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested two Binghamton residents after a high-speed pursuit ended with a successful stop-stick deployment.
The incident began around 2:00 AM on Jan. 22, when Road Patrol Division deputies spotted a black Jeep near Glenwood Avenue. Notably, the vehicle matched the description of a Jeep involved in several previous pursuits with Binghamton Police. Furthermore, deputies confirmed the vehicle carried stolen plates from the Village of Johnson City.
When patrols attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to comply and sped through Binghamton at 70 mph. The driver ignored multiple traffic signals and swerved across lanes before entering State Route 17 East. Once on the highway, the Jeep accelerated to 90 mph. During this time, the front-seat passenger climbed into the back seat and began hurling objects at the pursuing patrol car, including a gas can, tools, and laundry.
As the pursuit continued onto I-81 South, another deputy positioned himself near Exit 9 with stop-sticks. By coordinating with the pursuing units, he successfully deployed the strips as the Jeep entered the off-ramp. Consequently, the spikes flattened both front tires and brought the dangerous chase to a halt.
01/24/2026
5. Puncturing the Plan: Police seize car after ‘lengthy pursuit’ at 145mph – United Kingdom
BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrdz90evg1o
The occupants of a car fleeing police at 145mph (233km/h) were using their phones to film the pursuit, officers believe.
Constables used a spike strip to bring the Volkswagen Golf to a halt after a “lengthy pursuit” across east Hertfordshire on Friday night.
They found the driver only had a provisional licence and seized the vehicle for being uninsured.
“It is believed that occupants of the vehicle were also filming the pursuit on their mobile phones,” the Beds, Cambs and Herts Road Policing Unit said on X.
01/24/2026
6. Puncturing the Plan: Police chase begins in Granite City & ends in St. Louis – Missouri
Advantage News by Big Z Media
The Madison County Sheriff’s Department confirms a traffic pursuit involving sheriff’s deputies resulted in a crash and arrest early Friday in downtown St. Louis.
Chief deputy Marcos Pulido says the chase began when a black Chevy Silverado suspected of criminal activity fled from a traffic stop attempt in Granite City.
Several police agencies assisted sheriff’s deputies, including the placement of spike strips near the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Chief deputy Pulido says police were able to take the driver, a 36-year-old male with a criminal history and several outstanding warrants against him, into custody, as well as his two juvenile passengers. The youths were later released to family.
01/22/2025
7. Puncturing the Plan: Investigation into San Diego Police Department Officer-Involved-Shooting – California
San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
https://www.sdsheriff.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3961/16
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit is investigating an officer‑involved shooting that occurred on the afternoon of January 22, 2026, in the 8800 block of Jamacha Road, in Spring Valley.
At about 12:40 p.m. today, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) received a call regarding a stolen vehicle near Euclid Avenue and Imperial Avenue, in the city of San Diego
A short time later, an officer saw the vehicle on Imperial Avenue and attempted to pull it over. The driver did not stop, and a pursuit ensued.
SDPD deployed spike strips in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
01/21/2025
8. Puncturing the Plan: Three arrested in Sierra Vista after high speed pursuit – Arizona
KOLD 13 News by 13 News Staff
https://www.kold.com/2026/01/21/three-arrested-sierra-vista-after-high-speed-pursuit/
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) — The Sierra Vista Police Department (SVPD) arrested three adults following a high-speed pursuit through several neighborhoods.
The incident began on Tuesday evening, January 20, when an officer attempted to stop a speeding vehicle. However, the driver, Julianna Rodriguez, failed to yield. Instead, she led officers through residential areas at speeds reaching 80 mph before fleeing northbound toward Benson on Highway 90.
Once on the highway, Rodriguez accelerated further, reaching speeds of 115 mph. During the chase, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, Huachuca City Police Department, and Benson Police Department provided vital assistance to the SVPD.
To resolve the situation, Benson police officers positioned spike strips near milepost 291. As a result, the strips punctured the vehicle’s tires and forced the pursuit to an end. Following the stop, authorities took Rodriguez and two adult passengers, Erick Acedo and Alysha Murray, into custody. Additionally, officers detained a juvenile passenger found at the scene.
01/20/2025
9. Puncturing the Plan: Stolen Beanies, High-Speed Pursuit Leads to Charges Filed in Camden County – Missouri
KRMS by Mike Anthony
At least three people have future court dates in Camden County after allegedly stealing 22 Carhart Fleece beanies worth just under $500 from an Osage Beach retailer and then leading officers on a high-speed pursuit which came to an end in Cole County.
Probable cause statements filed allege that there were four individuals in the Chevy HHR which swerved in and out of traffic reaching speeds between 100 and 120 miles per hour until striking a spike strip deployed in Cole County by the highway patrol.
The four were taken to Camden County with 19-year-olds Cameron Cowan and Marvon Ruff, both from Jefferson City, are now formally charged with misdemeanor stealing along with Javion Washington from Kansas City. Cowan also picked up a felony for aggravated fleeing.
01/20/2025
10. Puncturing the Plan: High-speed pursuit from Peoria to Springfield ends on I-55 – Illinois
WLDS by Banjamin Cox
https://wlds.com/high-speed-pursuit-from-peoria-to-springfield-ends-on-i-55/
A police pursuit originating in the Peoria area shut down southbound Interstate 55 in Springfield for several hours today. Eventually, authorities reopened the roadway shortly after 2:00 PM.
The incident began earlier this morning when East Peoria police received an alert regarding a suspect from Washington, Illinois. Specifically, investigators established probable cause for criminal sexual assault and possession of a firearm by a felon. Authorities believed the suspect was armed with a rifle when he fled his residence in a vehicle.
According to news reports, police located the vehicle in East Peoria at approximately 9:43 AM and attempted a traffic stop. However, the driver refused to comply, sparking a multi-agency pursuit. Officers from the Creve Coeur Police Department, the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois State Police followed the suspect as the chase continued south onto Interstate 55 toward Springfield.
To end the pursuit, State Police deployed stop sticks near milepost 98. Consequently, the spike strips immobilized the vehicle on the southbound lanes, allowing officers to secure the scene.