A routine traffic stop for a defective taillight and speeding in Stringtown early Wednesday morning escalated into an arrest after the driver allegedly refused to comply with officer commands, locked his doors, and resisted being removed from his vehicle.
At approximately 1:38 AM on June 11, 2025, Lighthorse Officer Kasey Shields was traveling northbound on US-69 when he observed a white car with a defective driver's side taillight. As the vehicle entered Stringtown city limits, it was paced at 75 mph in a 60 mph zone.
Officer Shields initiated a traffic stop in front of the Stringtown Casino. Upon approaching the vehicle, Officer Shields asked the driver for identification. The driver, later identified as Richard Smith, questioned the reason for the stop.
