Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
Oct. 23, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — A 32-year-old Columbia, Mo., man has been charged in connection with two robberies at a Kansas City, Mo., convenience store and a car chase that stretched from Kansas City to near the Missouri-Iowa border.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said in a press release that Donald V. Buckner, 32, faces two counts of first-degree robbery, a class A felony; two counts of armed criminal action which includes a punishment of no less than three years in prison; and resisting a lawful stop, a class D felony.

According to court records, police were dispatched Wednesday, Oct. 22, regarding an armed robbery in the Quik Trip, 6641 E. Truman Road, parking lot. Two victims told police that the suspect shoved a gun into their side or neck and demanded money. When police arrived, they observed the Buckner behind the wheel of a white vehicle that pulled out of the parking lot and refused to stop.

They pursued, often at high rates of speed down Truman Road before he merged northbound onto Hwy. I-435. Buckner wove hazardously throughout traffic until Platte County deputies took control of the pursuit in the northland. They were later joined by law enforcement officers from Atchison County, Holt County and Missouri State Highway Patrol until Buckner was taken into custody just south of Rock Port in Atchison County.

After being made aware of his Miranda Rights, Buckner admitted to being at the Quik Trip. He said he entered the store twice and paid for his gas the second time. He admitted to having a “BB gun” in his vehicle at the time of his arrest. He said he refused to stop for police due to an assault warrant from Columbia, Mo. At the time of his arrest, Buckner was in possession of two-two dollar bills and other miscellaneous amounts of U.S. currency.

He was previously convicted of distribution/manufacturing of a controlled substance and has numerous prior arrests for assault, misdemeanor drug charges, and trespassing. Buckner is in custody in Atchison County, Mo. Prosecutors have requested a $100,000 bond.