A 29-year-old Independence woman is facing multiple felony charges after an incident that started in Saline County ended in Lafayette County on October 26.

According to a report from a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, he was notified of a stolen pickup from Casey’s General Store in Sweet Springs, and the vehicle was traveling westbound on I-70.

The trooper located the stolen vehicle, and it failed to yield and swerved to avoid stop sticks deployed by the Higginsville Police Department. The driver lost control, and the pickup struck the median cable barrier. The driver continued to attempt to evade apprehension and traveled across the separator, across the North Outer Road and into the parking lot of Kleinschmidt’s Western Store. The trooper located the vehicle behind the store, stopped against a propane tank, which it had struck and damaged.

Employees of the store advised the trooper they observed someone climbing into a trash dumpster behind the store, and he arrested was Erica M. Stanley, who first told the trooper her name was Jessica Nicole Richie.

The trooper searched the dumpster and located a driver’s license and a Visa debit card with the vehicle owner’s name on them. A glass pipe with methamphetamine residue and a bottle of butane also were located, as well as a small bottle of unmarked capsules that allegedly belonged to Stanley. The value of repairs to the propane tank is estimated at more than $460; and stolen items from within the vehicle at more than $1,500. The stolen vehicle sustained a large amount of damage from both crashes.

Stanley is charged with Class D Felonies for Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree and Stealing of $750 or more; a Class E Felony for Resisting Arrest, Detention or Stop by Fleeing; and three misdemeanors. Bond has been fixed at $50,000 cash or surety.

Stanley was arraigned on October 28. Her next hearing is scheduled to be held at 9:30 a.m. on December 2 at Lafayette County Circuit Court.