Stolen vehicle leads to traffic snarl

Officers stopped a vehicle about an hour after it was reported stolen, snagging traffic for a bit Tuesday afternoon.

The driver, DeMario Claxton, 22, of Sedalia, was arrested on Pettis County failure to appear in court warrants and a charge of driving with a revoked license. Patrolman Daniel Benner said he was still investigating the vehicle theft, and had not requested any charges in connection with it.

Benner, and three other officers with guns drawn, stopped the Chevy Blazer just after 1 p.m. on West Broadway Boulevard west of South Barrett Avenue. They arrested Claxton and let a passenger in the vehicle leave.

Fayanne Silvey, of Sedalia, reported the vehicle stolen just after noon Tuesday. Silvey’s boyfriend, Felipe Tapia, is the vehicle owner.

Benner said Silvey told him she passed out at a friend’s home in the 600 block of West 16th Street with the keys in her pocket. She woke up, and the keys and vehicle were gone.

Benner took the report, then recognized the vehicle about 1 p.m. at South Missouri Avenue and West Second Street.

“I never even had a chance to start on my paperwork to enter it as reported stolen,” he said.