Another high speed chase in Miami County. The incident began shortly after midnight Saturday, June 21st, when an officer from the Osawatomie Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop for speeding, on a vehicle traveling north on U. S. Highway 169 south of 327th Street. The driver failed to yield and fled at speeds reaching 108 mph. The suspect’s vehicle then exited at 327th street and entered the City of Paola. At that point, officers from the Paola Police Department and the Miami County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit.
The vehicle continued traveling at about 100 mph through city streets before re-entering northbound U. S. 169. Paola and Osawatomie Police discontinued the chase, but Miami County Sheriff’s Deputies kept at it, reaching speeds of 130 mph.
Deputies successfully deployed tire deflation devices, disabling two tires, but the suspect continued driving the vehicle. The suspect continued westbound on 175th street into the City of Gardner, where the vehicle struck a stop sign near Walmart before coming to a stop. The driver was taken into custody without incident. Arrested was 32-year-old Joseph Birdson, of Pleasanton. He faces multiple traffic-related charges from the Osawatomie Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office, as well as one count of misdemeanor interference with law enforcement.
