Willow Springs man arrested after 120 mph pursuit

A Jan. 31 pursuit led law enforcement from West Plains to Wright County as Samuel L. Houck, Jr., 36, of Willow Springs, attempted to avoid arrest.

A Howell County Sheriff's Deputy observed Houck fail to stop at a red light at Monks St. and US Highway 63, according to a statement from Missouri State Highway Patrol. The subject did not stop for the deputy, and a pursuit began at approximately 3:35 p.m. Houck fled north on US Highway 63, “at excessive speeds."

Shortly, after the pursuit began, West Plains Police Department advised their colleagues that Houck was a suspect in a robbery at the Southern Hills Shopping Center. 

Troopers attempted to deploy tire deflation devices south of Willow Springs, but Houck evaded them. Howell County Sheriff's Deputies discontinued their pursuit south of Willow Springs, but troopers stayed with the suspect as he continued westbound on US Highway 60. 

A trooper near Mountain Grove clocked his speed at more than 120 mph, and MSHP began attempts to stop the vehicle. 

In Seymour, Houck nearly struck a Seymour Police Department officer, who was attempting to deploy spikes.  

At 4:17 p.m., Houck was taken into custody after causing a crash west of State Route K on US Highway 60. There were no injuries in the crash, MSHP reports. 

Houck was held on a 24-hour hold in the Wright County Jail.

On Feb. 3, formal charges were issued in Wright County. Houck faces a charge of aggravated DWI, a class D felony, one charge of driving while revoked, and one charge of resisting arrest for a felony.

He remains in custody on a $25,000 cash bond with strict special conditions including: obeying all laws, not operating a motor vehicle, supervision by Court Probationary Services, refraining from possessing or consuming any intoxicating substance, twice weekly random drug testing, continuous alcohol monitoring, and house arrest with GPS monitoring at a court-approved address.