HIGHLANDVILLE, Mo. — A Missouri deputy sheriff and his wife were killed Monday night when a drunk driver fleeing police crashed head-on into their vehicle, leaving their 4-month-old grandchild hospitalized with serious injuries, authorities said.
Garrett Cleaver, 40, has been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated fleeing resulting in death, aggravated fleeing resulting in physical injury, and second-degree assault, according to the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Sheriff Mike Adams, 52, was riding as a passenger with his wife, Ashley, and their infant grandchild around 8:50 p.m. Monday on Melton Road near Highlandville when Cleaver allegedly crossed the center line and struck their vehicle head-on after fleeing a traffic stop.
Both Mike and Ashley Adams were pronounced dead at the scene. Their grandchild, who suffered serious injuries, remains hospitalized but is expected to survive.
Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole mourned the loss of his deputy, describing Adams as “one of those guys that no matter what the situation was, or he was asked to do, you could count on him.”
Sheriff Cole also condemned Cleaver’s continued presence on the roads, citing his prior convictions for vehicular homicide and evading police in Missouri and Kansas.
“This is another case where the suspect’s criminal history in multiple states reflects a failure on the part of the criminal justice system to keep a dangerous person off the streets and to protect innocent citizens,” Cole said in a statement Wednesday.
Adams, an Air Force veteran, previously served with the Scott County and Mississippi County Sheriff’s Offices before joining the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.
Cleaver remains in custody as the investigation continues.
