Suspect charged in pursuit, crash and fire that killed officer

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. — Authorities have identified the suspect in the high-speed chase that killed Missouri police officer Phylicia Carson.

Christopher Aaron Bishop Wehmeyer, 23, is charged with fleeing the scene of a traffic stop or arrest involving a motor vehicle resulting in death, according to a news release from Camden County District Attorney Richelle Grosvenor.

“These charges are based on Valentine’s Law, which went into effect last week. This new law creates the crime of ‘impeded escape from a motor vehicle arrest or detention.’

“If someone knows a law enforcement officer is trying to stop them and still drives away, creating a risk of injury, that’s at least a class D felony. It increases to a class B felony if someone is injured and a class A felony if someone dies because of that person’s escape.”

Wehmeyer remains in the Camden County Jail without bail.

Just after 1:30 a.m. Saturday, sheriff’s deputies responded to a call near Richland to assist Osage Beach Police – City of Osage Beach, Missouri with a car chase.

Missouri State Police said a 2024 Ford Explorer driven by 33-year-old Phylicia Carson, an Osage Beach police officer, was traveling south on Route A, just east of Toronto Springs Park Road.

The SUV crossed the median in pursuit of the suspect, later identified as Wehmeyer, and began to skid. The vehicle went off the left side of the road, struck a tree and caught fire. Officer Carson was pronounced dead at the scene and taken to Hedges Scott Funeral Home in Camdenton.

According to police, the vehicle driven by Wehmeyer was also involved in an accident and he was taken into custody.

Officer Carson leaves behind a husband and six children. Osage Beach police say she had been in the city since June 2023.

“Grosvenor has asked for community thoughts and prayers as this loss has affected so many people.”