A Holts Summit man was taken into custody after a chase with authorities early Thursday morning in Callaway County.
Sheriff's Department reports show deputies attempted to stop a vehicle on Route AA near Meller Road for a traffic violation around 3:13 a.m.
The vehicle went onto Meller and accelerated to a high rate of speed. Eventually the vehicle stopped and the two occupants inside fled on foot.
Deputies chased one of the occupants, who was identified as Matthew Evans, 24, Holts Summit. He was found behind residences on Meller. As authorities approached Evans he jumped into a lagoon and after several minutes he eventually came out of the lagoon and was taken into custody.
Evans was found to have a felony warrant out of Cole County for receiving stolen property.
During a search of the vehicle, a loaded rifle was found. Because Evans has a previous felony conviction in Cole County, it is illegal for him to possess a firearm under both state and federal law.
Evans was transported to a local hospital where he was medically cleared for incarceration in the Callaway County Jail.
On top of the Cole County charge, Evans is now facing Callaway County charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest for a felony.
As of Thursday afternoon, the second subject who fled from authorities was still being sought and has been identified by investigating deputies.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges could be forthcoming
Court records show this past July, Evans was placed on five years supervised probation for pleading guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash following his driving into a Jefferson City convenience store in July 2014.
According to Jefferson City Police, Evans drove from West Stadium Boulevard into the parking lot of Phillips 66. Without stopping, he drove into the side of the store, pushing the wall 10 to 12 inches, and damaging merchandise and equipment inside.
Evans backed his vehicle up, got out to check the damage, then got back in and drove away.