An Ozark County man was taken into custody Monday morning in Ava, after Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase rammed the back of the suspect’s vehicle pinning it between patrol units.Sheriff Degase says in a Facebook post he was conducting surveillance on a residence when he observed a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Travis Howard of Gainesville, a suspect in several area burglaries. He says he recognized Howard as a large-scale methamphetamine distributor who has been in two prior pursuits with law enforcement in Douglas and Ozark counties. Howard is also a suspect of a stolen side-by-side Douglas County law enforcement recovered in Ozark County.
Photo: Travis Howard
Degase followed Howard’s vehicle, letting it pass the schools, as children were just starting to be dropped off for classes. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store where the sheriff and two deputies attempted to pin it in to avoid a pursuit in the school area.
Howard reportedly accelerated his vehicle rapidly onto Bacorn Avenue where deputies were able to pull in front and block him. Howard began to back his vehicle to go around the patrol units when Sheriff Degase opted to end the pursuit by ramming Howard’s vehicle to avoid placing motorists and children around the school in harm’s way.
Howard and a passenger, 32-year-old David Fisher of Ava, were taken into custody. Several grams of methamphetamine where reportedly seized from their vehicle.
Photo: David Fisher
Both Sheriff Degase and Howard sustained minor cuts from broken glass, as the Gainesville man had to be forcibly removed from his vehicle through the driver’s window.
A subsequent search warrant was executed at Fisher’s residence located on South Mansfield street where additional methamphetamine was seized, along with marijuana plants being illegally grown. Four children were removed from the residence, and a female 34-year-old Karen Greenwood of Ava, was taken into custody, with formal charges pending.
Howard has been charged with delivery of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and resisting arrest by fleeing. His bond was set at $25,000, cash only. He was just released from the Missouri Department of Corrections in June and has 16 prior felony arrests on charges of multiple drug violations, burglary, tampering with motor vehicle, assault on law enforcement and illegal possession of firearms. Howard was on probation.
Fisher was charged with possession of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $5,000, cash only.
Sheriff Degase notes he is thankful the pursuit ended quickly to avoid a pursuit near the school. A previous pursuit with Howard with law enforcement was terminated on Arkansas Highway 5 South for safety reasons, after the vehicle the Gainesville man was driving almost struck another vehicle head on.
Sheriff Degase also commended his officers for the long hours of investigation in this case from a burglary on Missouri Route DD in western Douglas County resulting in several thousands of dollars in stolen property being recovered.
He expressed his appreciation to Ava Police Lt. David Overcast and Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper Charlie Hogue for their assistance.
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