Court Documents: Man smoked pipe, fell asleep during standoff that closed I-35
UPDATE: Court records show Finley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison on Aug. 27, 20205.
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LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) - A Kansas City man has been charged with Valentine’s Law after a standoff with police closed I-35 in both directions near Liberty.
Clay County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Saturday, June 28, indicate that Larry M. Finley, 65, of Kansas City, has been charged with aggravated fleeing a stop after he fell asleep during a standoff on I-35 and was taken into custody.
A probable cause statement filed by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office revealed that around 2:45 p.m. on Friday, law enforcement officials attempted to stop a gray Chevrolet Impala near Missouri 69 Highway and Lightburne St. The tag on the car appeared to have been tampered with.
When deputies pulled up behind the driver, later identified as Finley, they said he swerved into another lane, trying to place other vehicles between him and law enforcement. Due to the invalid plate and Finley’s aggressive driving, a stop was attempted.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that Finley stopped the car on Highway 69 near Nebo Hills Rd. where he told investigators he recently purchased the car from a dealer in Kansas City. Initially, he began to pull out the car’s title, but then shoved it back in a red backpack and refused to show the paperwork.
Investigators indicated that Finley shifted the car into drive again and sped away. They ran back to their patrol vehicles and took off after him.
Throughout the chase, law enforcement officials said speeds of nearly 120 mph were reached in 45 mph zones. A red light was run and multiple vehicles were almost hit.
The Sheriff’s Office said Finley hit a tire deflation device near I-35 and Lightburne St., but continued on. At this point, his tires began to smoke and unravel into traffic.
Law enforcement officials said that the vehicle stopped again on southbound I-35 near Missouri 291 Highway, where Finley’s passenger was let out of the car. However, he took off again and ran over another set of stop sticks.
Due to the increasing danger of the chase, investigators said they performed a pit maneuver, which finally got the Impala to stop. Instead of complying with demands to get out of the car, Finley put a knife to his own neck.
As a result, deputies said both sides of the interstate were shut down. Multiple crashes were reported in the area as a result.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that the passenger admitted Finley had multiple warrants out for his arrest and would not be taken “without a fight.” She said they had been on their way to deliver narcotics to a house north of the river.
During the standoff that ensued, law enforcement officials said they could see Finley smoke a glass pipe inside the car. After a drone was dispatched around 4:50 p.m., they learned Finley had fallen asleep.
Investigators said they took the opportunity to open the door, grab the knife and take Finley into custody. By 5:05 p.m., he was arrested and on his way to an area hospital. The interstate was also reopened.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that during an interview, the passenger reported Finley had sold her “crack cocaine” often within the past year. He had asked her to drive with him to deliver the drugs, but did not know their final destination.
However, investigators noted that Finley claimed the 3.5 grams of narcotics found in the vehicle were all his. He admitted that he would rather die than go back to prison.
As a result, Finley has been charged with Valentine’s Law - aggravated fleeing a stop. If convicted, he could spend up to 4 years in prison and be ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
An arraignment has been set for 2 p.m. on Monday, June 30. As of Monday morning, Finley remains behind bars on a $75,000 bond.
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