A Florissant man has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges after fleeing St. Louis police, striking a city worker, and being found with a firearm and large quantities of drugs.
Jorden M. Owens, 23, entered his plea on Tuesday to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, Owens was seen by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers on December 12, 2024, near Page Boulevard and Vandeventer Avenue in a stolen Lexus RC350 coupe. Officers attempted to stop him using spike strips as he drove along Grand Boulevard. Owens then fled at high speed.
During the chase, about 60 employees from a local business were forced to run out of the way near Tucker Boulevard and Chouteau Avenue due to his driving. At the intersection of 7th Street and Cerre Street, Owens struck an employee from the City of St. Louis Traffic Division before crashing into her work truck.
He attempted to escape on foot but was arrested after resisting arrest violently. Authorities recovered a Glock .40-caliber pistol modified with an auto sear that made it fully automatic in his bag. The car contained three cell phones, approximately 824.7 grams (1.8 pounds) of methamphetamine, and 342 grams of fentanyl.
"Owens is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3," according to prosecutors. "Each count is punishable by from five to 40 years in prison."
The investigation was conducted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Delworth is handling prosecution for the case.
