Man cited after slow speed moped chase caught on video winds through Clay Co. park, yards

A man faces multiple citations after a slow speed chase on a moped Sunday night that continued off-road through a park and multiple yards in Avondale, Missouri.

On Sunday around 11:51 p.m., a Clay County sheriff’s deputy noticed a red Vespa scooter that ran a stop sign at North Bell and Northeast Jaudon streets in Avondale, Missouri, according to a report from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

The deputy pursued the Vespa, driven by 41-year-old Isaac M. Barber, in a 15-minute slow speed chase captured on dash cam footage.

Barber faced citations, but no state criminal charges as the chase never exceeded 23 mph, according to the incident report.

The chase continued through multiple intersections until it reached the area of northbound Park Avenue near Northeast Cates Street, where a passenger fled the Vespa on foot through resident’s yards.

A deputy continued to pursue the Vespa, which ran a red light at Northeast Parvin Road and Northeast Chouteau Trafficway. As Barber approached 42nd Street, he allegedly took the vehicle off road and drove through a park, and another deputy joined the pursuit, according to the incident report.

Eventually, Barber lost control of the Vespa near North Elmwood Avenue and Northeast 42nd Street. He laid the Vespa down and fled on foot through residential yards, according to the incident report.

A deputy chased after him on foot, and Barber was taken into custody in the 4200 block of Elmwood Avenue and placed on a 24-hour investigative hold. Deputies searched the Vespa and found a sunglasses case that contained a meth smoking pipe with residue, which was taken as evidence, according to the incident report.

The sheriff’s office later learned that the Vespa had been stolen about a month before. Its owner hadn’t reported the incident until Tuesday, after seeing a post about the pursuit on social media.

Another deputy noted the Vespa had been spray painted, often an indication of a stolen vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.