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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">October 22, 2020</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Jeff Pitts
<br />Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.817.5049
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov
<br />
<br />Brittany Hilderbrand
<br />Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7671
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">UPDATE: Arrest made in Oct. 18 fatal crash in 3300 block of Paris Road</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia Police arrested James M. Pittard III, 63, of Columbia on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in connection to the Oct. 18 crash involving a vehicle that struck and killed a pedestrian in the 3300 block of Paris Road. The vehicle fled the scene after the crash.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During their investigation, officers working on leads discovered Pittard to be a person of interest. While attempting to make contact with Pittard, an officer observed him driving a white Volkswagen Jetta and conducted a traffic stop near the area of Brown Station Road and Starke Avenue. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pittard was arrested for the following;</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Driving while intoxicated;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tampering with physical evidence;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Obstructing government operation; </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Failure to display lighted lamps on a motor vehicle; </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Failure to comply with ignition interlock requirement; and</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Failure to wear a seatbelt.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pittard was also arrested for the following in relation to the fatal pedestrian crash on Oct. 18;</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Involuntary manslaughter;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leaving the scene of an accident; and</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tampering with physical evidence.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"This incident resulted in the loss of a life," said Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones. "Thanks to the excellent teamwork of our community’s police officers and investigators, the suspect was identified and located in about 72 hours. This was timely action performed by professionals who truly care about the people of Columbia," Jones said. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pittard was remanded in the custody of Boone County Jail. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to please contact the Columbia Police Department at 573.874.7652 or CrimeStoppers at 573.875.TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Case number 2020-010016, 2020-010119</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />Previous press release(s):</span> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia Police investigate a fatal pedestrian crash in the 3300 block of Paris Road on Oct. 18</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=7096"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=7096</span></a></p></div>
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<div class="attachments">This release has the following attachments:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=2555">James M. Pittard, III</a></div>
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<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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