CRYSTAL CITY, Mo. — The first charges have been filed against a man who drove from Arkansas with a dead woman in his truck before pointing guns at police following a pursuit in Crystal City, according to court documents.
Jarrett W. Cousins, 40, of Bradford, Arkansas, was charged with one count each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
No charges have been filed in the death Clara Blaxton, 45, whose body was found inside Cousins' truck following the pursuit; the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said the homicide investigation is ongoing in northeast Arkansas, where investigators determined Blaxton was killed.
Police believe Cousin and Blaxton were in a relationship.
According to a probable cause statement, officers from nearby Festus responsed on Sunday to a report of a man firing a handgun from his truck. Officers said the truck sped away toward Crystal City.
The truck turned onto southbound U.S. 61-67, crossed the center median and came to rest in the northbound lanes. Cousins then got out of the truck wearing body armor with a gun in each hand.
Police said officers ordered Cousins to drop the guns, but he refused.
"In one swift motion, Jarrett raised the handguns and fired multiple rounds in an unknown direction," court documents said.
Officers returned fire, striking him once in the abdomen. As he fell to the ground, he raised an arm and pointed the gun toward officers, police said.
Before he could fire the gun, Crystal City officers fired at him again. He was then subdued and taken into custody before being to a hospital for treatment.
Officers then found Blaxton's body inside his truck. Her exact cause of death is still under investigation.
Cousins was being held without bond.
"There is still plenty of work to do, and we wish all the best for the Arkansas State Police as they work to provide justice for the victim and her family," Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak said in a statement.
