An Ava man is in the Texas County Jail after authorities said he drove erratically Saturday at Cabool, struck another vehicle and pointed a gun at a victim while two young children were his passengers.
Devon Cole Rodriguez, born in 1998, is charged with seven felonies and two misdemeanors following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Cabool Police Department.
Felony charges are: two counts of first-degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm (as a felon), two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of children, ages 6 and 6 months; first-degree property damage, unlawful use of a weapon (exhibiting) and resisting arrest. He also is charged with two misdemeanor offenses: DWI and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident. Bond is set at $7,500 cash.
A trooper said he was called to Rogers Avenue, where a male was reporting making threats with a gun. Cabool police said the alleged crime originated on eastbound U.S. 60 east of Route MM.
The patrol officer said when he made contact with Rodriguez, he smelled alcohol and determined two juvenile boys had been in the vehicle. The suspect refused commands and was later placed into a Cabool patrol car.
In the ensuing patrol investigation, it was determined that Rodriguez had been driving in the wrong lane on Business 60 west of Dunn and nearly caused a head-on accident. A witness followed Rodriguez’s red Dodge Durango as it traveled east on U.S. 60. Eventually a 2017 GMC Sierra was allegedly intentionally struck by the Durango and ran off the road. Later, the suspect is alleged to have pointed a gun and was seen on foot with the weapon on Rogers Street. Evidence includes witnesses and neighborhood video.
Upon questioning, Rodriguez admitted tossing a .22-caliber weapon into some bushes, but it has not been found. “Did he throw it hard,” an officer asked.
“Well, I knew if y’all found it, I was going to prison,” he replied.
A blood sample was taken, and an ambulance was called to the arrest scene after Rodriguez was vomiting, according to a report.