Apr 3, 2008

On March 22, Larry P. Brashers, 21, of Pomona, was arrested by members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol following the assault of a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper. Brashers was taken to the Texas County Jail where he was being held without bond. At approximately 9 p.m. on March 21, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, who has now been identified as Ava native Curtis Haden, was dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and Missouri Route H in Texas County to check on a vehicle, which was roadside. During the course of contacting the occupant of the vehicle, a 1988 Chevrolet pickup, the trooper determined that the subject, Larry P. Brashers, was wanted on numerous outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants from several surrounding counties. As the trooper was placing Brashers under arrest, Brashers became combative and assaulted Cpl. Haden, eventually obtaining his duty weapon. Brashers then fled the scene with the weapon. After searching for Brashers for several hours, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers were able to establish contact with the suspect via cell phone. At 1:19 a.m., March 22, Brashers was taken into custody and the weapon recovered, without incident, near the Gardner Ford Bridge in Texas County. He was taken to the Texas County Sheriff’s Department where he is currently being held on numerous warrants. Several charges related to the assault of the Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper are forthcoming, according to information released by Troop G, Willow Springs. Cpl. Haden, the son of Raymond and Naida Haden, of Ava, is an 18-year veteran of the Patrol. He was taken to Texas County Memorial Hospital where he was treated for numerous moderate injuries and released.