The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a Missouri man was arrested Thursday on drug and other charges, following the chase of a stolen SUV, which later crashed and burst into flames. 37-year old Sean Christopher Schmidt, of St. Joseph, MO, was being held in the Fremont County Jail on pending charges of Conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance, Unauthorized transportation of anhydrous ammonia, Theft in the 2nd degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of a Precursor.

Officials say Schmidt was one of two people who escaped on foot after a 2002 Hyundai Sante Fe was stolen out of northwest Missouri Thursday morning, crashed into a levee just south of 270th Street and 300th Avenue, south of Sidney. The SUV burst into flames following the crash, and was a total loss.

The chase began when Fremont County authorities were notified by the Missouri Highway Patrol, that the stolen SUV was headed into the county. Deputies, along with DOT personnel began a search for the vehicle, which was observed by a female DOT officer on northbound Interstate 29. It left the interstate at Exit 20, and proceeded east towards Thurman. From there, the driver of the SUV tried to elude the officer. Several other officers joined in the pursuit, but they lost contact with the vehicle.

After it crashed and the occupants escaped, a report was received several hours later that a subject was seen running south on the West Nishnabotna levee. Deputies responded and took Schmidt into custody. The other suspect in the incident remains at large.