First Cases Filed Under Missouri’s Valentine’s Law in Kansas City Metro

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Valentine’s Law, a new Missouri regulation that toughens penalties for fleeing a traffic stop, has been in effect for just over a month. Now, counties around the Kansas City metro area are filing their first cases under this law.

In Clay County, three cases have already been filed. Prosecuting Attorney Zach Thompson emphasized the importance of these stricter penalties, noting that fleeing often leads to injuries not only to those attempting to escape but also to other drivers, pedestrians, and officers.

It’s a miracle when no one gets hurt when someone recklessly decides to flee from a traffic stop, Thompson said.

One recent case in Clay County involved William Robinson, who fired shots at officers during a disturbance call before fleeing the scene in an Amazon delivery truck. Court records show that what started as a disturbance quickly escalated into a dangerous pursuit.

Sarah Boyd, Public Relations Manager for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, explained that deputies frequently face such situations. We’re involved in pursuits one to three times a week, but we often don’t follow because of the danger, she said. Boyd added that officers are trained to make careful decisions about when to pursue a suspect, focusing on those who pose an ongoing threat to the public.

Valentine’s Law increases penalties for fleeing a traffic stop. If a driver’s actions put others at risk of injury, they face at least one year in prison. If someone dies as a result, the penalty ranges from 10 to 30 years, or even life imprisonment.

When someone decides to flee, they’re essentially turning their car into a two-ton missile, endangering everyone on the road—motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement, and even themselves, Thompson explained. We want to hold those individuals accountable and deter others from making the same reckless choice.

The law is named after St. Louis County detective Antonio Valentine, who was tragically killed in December 2021 when a fleeing vehicle crashed into his unmarked police car.

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