Man leads officers on high-speed chase on motorcycle through Theodosia

Michael Collins
Michael Collins, 44, of Protem, has been charged with resisting arrest by fleeing (causing serious risk of injury or death to any person), possession of methamphetamine and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving a high-speed chase in Theodosia a couple months ago.
According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Ozark County Sheriff’s Lt. Matt Rhoades, at 5:18 p.m. Aug. 2, he and Deputy Hunter Ryan were conducting patrol on Highway 160 in Theodosia when they attempted to stop Collins on a motorcycle that had no license plates.
“As we approached the vehicle, it sped up, and we activated our lights and sirens in our marked patrol vehicle. A pursuit ensured for 5 miles, during which time he endangered multiple other motorists by speeding in excess of 75 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone. He passed multiple vehicles on a double yellow line. He forced multiple [vehicles] off the road by passing them, nearly striking several with his motorcycle. He drove into oncoming traffic multiple times, forcing the oncoming traffic off the road,” Rhoades’s report says. “While fleeing, he continued to reach into a black fanny pack he was wearing. At one point, he pulled out a black zipper bag and threw it on the road.”
The bag landed on the road, and Deputy Josh Sherman, who was in a marked police unit behind Rhoades and Ryan, collected the bag and found a meth pipe and a ziplock bag that field-tested positive for meth.
A Facebook post by the Ozark County Sheriff says that the motorcycle started having mechanical issues, which ended the pursuit.
Collins later admitted to throwing the bag into the road and said that it did have a meth pipe and a small plastic bag with meth inside the black bag, the report says.
“He also stated that he is trying to get off meth, admitting that he uses it personally. He admitted to running from us due to not having registration on the motorcycle,” the report says.
Online records say that Collins is currently in a substance abuse treatment facility. His case is scheduled to be taken up again before Circuit Judge Craig Carter in Ozark County Court at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 25, for a plea hearing or trial setting.
The Ozark County Sheriff’s Facbeook post left Collins with this advice:
“Lesson # 1 Don’t run.
“Lesson # 2 Don’t litter.
“Lesson # 3 FANNY PACKS ARE BACK, BABY!!
“Lesson # 4 Follow regular maintenance schedules found in your vehicle’s manual. If you need assistance with this lesson, we suggest shopping local for your mechanical needs.”