For Immediate Release
March 17, 2023

A 26-year-old Independence man has been charged in connection with the double-fatality crash in Independnece on Wednesday, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Melvin T. Brown, dob: 8/17/1996, faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree, Resisting Arrest, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree, *

According to court records, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, a Independence Police Department officer followed a vehicle that had, upon check, shown to be stolen. The officer attempted to coordinate the deployment of stop sticks to prevent a pursuit. But the vehicle continued, and a pursuit occurred in Independence, with rates of speed touching 90 mph until a crash occurred at Scott Avenue and Winner Road, when the Jeep driven by the defendant struck a motorcycle, killing driver Jake Jackson Monteer and passenger Jessica Marie Fields. The defendant's vehicle continued until officers attempted to stop it again. Officers found that the vehicle was stolen, and an officer observed signs of impairment. A blood sample was taken and a preliminary test showed presence of drugs. A confirmation test is pending.  

Prosecutors requested a $300,000 bond.

For more information, contact:

Michael Mansur

Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile : (816) 674-3954
www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
mmansur@jacksongov.org

*Charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty.