Douglas Alexius, Illegal Firearm, Missouri 2022

SPRINGFIELD, MO – Douglas Eugene Alexius, 47, of Galena, Kansas, is facing federal charges after a chaotic chase across state lines culminated in his arrest and the discovery of a loaded handgun. The incident, which unfolded on October 9, 2022, began in Cherokee County, Kansas, and ended with Alexius being tased repeatedly after refusing to comply with police orders.

The chase ignited when a Cherokee County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to pull Alexius over for running a stop sign while operating a Harley Davidson motorcycle on U.S. Highway 166. Instead of complying, Alexius allegedly floored the throttle, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit that spilled over into Newton County, Missouri. The ride ended abruptly when Alexius lost control of the motorcycle at the intersection of Greenwood Drive and Birch Drive, crashing the bike.

Authorities didn’t have an easy time taking Alexius into custody. According to the indictment, he repeatedly refused to lie on the ground as instructed and continued to reach into his jacket pocket, prompting officers to deploy a taser three times before he was subdued. A search of Alexius revealed a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol concealed within his jacket.

This wasn’t Alexius’s first run-in with the law. Federal prosecutors have designated him an armed career criminal, citing a lengthy rap sheet. He’s previously been convicted of four felony counts of resisting arrest, two felony counts of possessing a controlled substance, and further felonies including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in relation to a drug offense, receiving stolen property, and unlawful use of a firearm. The possession of the 9mm pistol, given his extensive criminal history, now carries significant federal penalties.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced Wednesday, November 16, that Alexius has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Federal law prohibits anyone with prior felony convictions from possessing firearms or ammunition. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence.

The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Newton County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department, and the Cherokee County, Kansas Sheriff’s Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron A. Beaver is prosecuting the case. It’s important to remember that the indictment is simply an accusation, and Alexius is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a federal trial.

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