The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published September 26, 2018

Manhunt for Eldon man ends in hay barn

MILLER COUNTY – An Eldon man has been apprehended after a manhunt which lasted most of the day.

Last Tuesday afternoon (September 18) deputies from the Miller County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) were dispatched to a domestic disturbance in the area of Route M and Adams Road.

The female victim was reporting that she had been physically assaulted and was being followed down the highway by the suspect in a black GMC pickup.

Once deputies arrived in the area they located the suspect driving the pickup. He then exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

Deputies pursued the suspect on foot until they lost sight of him in the dense forest.

Deputies identified the suspect as Gabriel Harris, 37 of Eldon, MO, who had several felony warrants for his arrest out of Miller and Camden counties.

A police K-9, troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) - Lake of the Ozarks area - responded to the scene along with the MSHP helicopter 93MP.

Upon arrival, the officers began searching an area on Adams Road. The initial search was unsuccessful and the MSHP helicopter pilot and the tactical flight officer began directing officers to outbuildings obscured by trees.

A citizen later located Harris in the area of Adams Road and Bax Road.

According to the MSHP, at approximately 6 p.m., a trooper and a MCSD deputy located the subject lying down inside a hay barn. When spotted, the subject went further into the barn and hid between some round hay bales.

With the assistance of local farmers and their equipment (and after removing over half the round bales in the barn) Harris was located hiding between the hay bales where he was taken into custody at 11:29 p.m. without incident.

“I would like to thank the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Eldon Police Department, and local farmers and citizens for their assistance in apprehending this suspect,” said MCSD Sheriff Louie Gregoire.

On August 8, Harris was charged with four counts of Domestic Assault - 2nd Degree (All felony charges) out of the Lake Ozark Police Department. A warrant was issued for his arrest the next day.

A warrant was also issued by Camden County on August 13 for failure to appear on a seat belt violation that he was charged with on March 31 of this year by the MSHP.

Another warrant was issued my Miller County on August 23 for Failure to Appear from Child Support Enforcement for Non-Support, Total Arrears In Excess Of 12 Monthly Payments Due Under Order Of Support.

He is currently being held on a no bond warrant and a $100,000 warrant.

Additional felony charges are expected to be filed in the near future, the MCSD stated.