On August 14, 2013 at approximately 2:26 P.M. the Joplin Emergency Communications Center received a call of a vehicle that was driving recklessly. They then received another call stating that the occupants of the vehicle, a male and female, were possibly having a physical disturbance in the vehicle.
An officer located the vehicle near 15th and Texas Ave. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle in the area of 20th and Texas. The vehicle refused to stop for the officer. The vehicle then sped away from the officer. The officer did not chase the vehicle involved. The vehicle was then located a few minutes later in the parking lot of Lowe’s located at 2600 S. Range Line Road. The male fled the vehicle on foot and the female remained with the vehicle. Officers contacted the female on the lot. The male subject fled the area and was not located.
At first the female gave a false name of who the driver of the vehicle was. She then gave officers the driver’s correct name. The female passenger, Branda Edwards 32 year old female from Joplin, was arrested for providing false information to officers. Officers located several items in the vehicle that appeared to be stolen. After further checking, it was determined that some of the items in the vehicle had been reported stolen from some burglaries that had occurred in Newton County. Ms. Edwards was also arrested for receiving stolen property.
The driver of the vehicle, Matthew Wooldridge a 30 year old male from Joplin, was not located and is still at large. Charges will be forwarded to the Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office on Mr. Wooldridge for Receiving Stolen Property as well. Charges will also be sent to the Joplin City Prosecutor’s Office for fleeing, careless driving, driving while revoked, and expired plates. It was also determined that Mr. Wooldridge has several outstanding warrants for his arrest.
The Joplin Police Department is currently working with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office on this incident.
If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Mr. Wooldridge, please contact the Joplin Police Department or the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. You can contact us via phone at 417-623-3131, on our web page at www.joplinpolice.org, on our Facebook page at www.facebook/JoplinPD, or submit a tip to the Heartland Crime Stoppers by calling 417-782-TIPZ or on their web page at www.heartlandtipz.com.