Share on LinkedIn

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - A Springfield man has been charged after hijacking a woman’s car in front of a Greene County Sheriff’s deputy.

According to court documents, 28-year-old Jacob Gregory is charged with vehicle hijacking and resisting arrest.

On July 1, a woman was leaving work near Ozark Technical Community College when Gregory and another man flagged her down for a ride. The woman agreed to drive the two men to the Kum&Go gas station near the intersection of Chestnut Expressway and National Avenue. The woman told investigators she did not know the two men.

Investigators say while the woman was driving on Chestnut in preparation to turn onto National, Gregory told her he had a gun and told her to keep driving or he would shoot her.

Authorities say traffic was congested at this time, which caused the woman to stop the car and sit in traffic. The woman then began trying to call 911, at the same time, Gregory got out of the car and went around to the driver’s side to hijack it. At the same time, a Greene County deputy was driving by and turned on his patrol lights.

According to court documents, Gregory was seemingly unaware of the deputy, who was parked nearby, and continued trying to hijack the car. The deputy’s dash camera caught the encounter.

Authorities say after a brief struggle, Gregory got the woman out of the car and was able to get in the driver’s seat and reverse the car a short distance. The woman then flagged down the deputy. Gregory saw this and got out of the car. The other person with Gregory pushed Gregory away from the car. Authorities say the other person did not agree with Gregory’s actions.

The deputy made contact with Gregory and was attempting to arrest him, but Gregory ran away down National. He was eventually arrested several blocks away from the intersection.

During an interview with police, Gregory kept making numerous spontaneous utterances regarding what happened.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.