RAYTOWN, Mo. – Police say a woman was thrown from a vehicle and killed after the driver she was with failed to stop for a Raytown officer Sunday night. Police identified the victim on Monday as Latasha N. Green, 31, of Kansas City. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office charged Anthony C. Harris Jr., 31, with multiple felonies, including second-degree murder, after identifying him as the suspected driver.
On Sunday evening police attempted to stop a vehicle which was speeding near the intersection of 75th and James A Reed. Instead of stopping, officers say Harris sped up, then lost control of the car and flipped it off the road. Police had terminated the pursuit before the crash according to court documents. Upon impact Green was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead as she was being transported to the hospital.
Police say a baby was also in the car and ejected. He was found in the roadway crying, but survived and was treated for non-life threatening injuries at a hospital according to court documents.
Harris may be tried for second-degree murder or intoxicated vehicular involuntary manslaughter in the alternative. An initial draw of Harris’ blood indicated that he was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash; his blood alcohol content was measured at .184 according to a probable cause statement.
He’s also been charged with resisting stop by fleeing, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and driving while revoked.
Harris has been identified as a persistent offender, already convicted of at least two felonies, which include convictions for drug trafficking and possession of a controlled substance according to online court records. A warrant was issued for his arrest on March 5 after he failed to appear for a pending resisting lawful stop charge, his current bond has been requested at $250,000.
