Armed Felon Admits Leading Police on Chase from Missouri to Arkansas

CAPE GIRARDEAU - A convicted felon on Tuesday admitted being in possession of a firearm when he led police on a high-speed chase from Missouri to Arkansas.

Joel A. Hancock, 52, of Kennett, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted being pulled over by the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 7, 2025. Deputies were seeking to arrest him on several felony warrants. Hancock refused commands to get out of the vehicle. When a deputy tried to manually unlock the vehicle via the open driver's side window, Hancock sped off. The resulting pursuit involved multiple police agencies. Hancock drove into Arkansas on rural county roads, nearly striking other vehicles and road workers and reaching speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. Eventually, officers with the Paragould Police Department were able to stop the vehicle. Hancock told officers that he had a firearm in his possession and officers retrieved a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol. Hancock has multiple prior felony convictions.

Hancock is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 15, 2027. He could face up to 15 years in prison.

The Dunklin County Sheriff's Office, the Green County (Arkansas) Sheriff's Department, the Paragould Police Department and the Arkansas State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is prosecuting the case.