Man tries kidnapping his ex, then leads cops on chase in U-Haul, MO cops say
A man tried to kidnap his ex-girlfriend in a U-Haul truck, then led officers on a chase through Missouri when she escaped, police said.
Dejai Caffey was arrested and charged with kidnapping, domestic assault and aggravated fleeing a stop or detention on June 7, according to court records.
Caffey’s attorney information was not listed.
The woman told police she was in the truck with her ex when he became aggressive and started attacking her, according to the criminal complaint.
Caffey drove to different locations in the area, but would not let his ex-girlfriend out of the truck whenever he came to a stop, Maryland Heights police said.
“He would then grab her and keep the doors closed,” according to the complaint.
The pair arrived at a gas station where Caffey stopped, then hit his ex’s head against a window, the complaint said. She escaped when they drove to another gas station.
Caffey was driving away from the location when he was spotted by officers. He led them on a chase in the U-Haul truck and struck a police vehicle while making a U-turn, the criminal complaint said.
Police said he ran multiple red lights while evading police, driving 70 mph in a 35-mph zone, and nearly caused a crash.
Two of the tires fell off the U-Haul and caused the vehicle to run off of the road, according to police. The truck crashed and flipped on its side, court documents said.
Caffey was taken into custody at the scene. His bond was set at $75,000, according to the arrest warrant filed June 9.
He is scheduled to appear in court on June 16.
Maryland Heights is about a 20-mile drive northwest from St. Louis.
This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Man tries kidnapping his ex, then leads cops on chase in U-Haul, MO cops say."
