Independence Man Indicted for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

Press Release

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Independence, Mo., man who led police officers on a high-speed chase has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing methamphetamine and four firearms.

Clinton W. Davis, 36, was charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The federal indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Davis on Dec. 23, 2024.

The federal indictment charges Davis with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Independence police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop at approximately 2:23 a.m. on Dec. 8, 2024. Davis, who was driving a Honda Accord with an expired temporary license, accelerated and led officers in a high-speed chase that reached speeds up to 105 miles per hour on 23^rd Street in Independence.

Shortly after Davis drove the Honda over stop sticks, or tire deflation devices, at 23^rd Street and Blue Ridge Cutoff, his vehicle was found in the grassy area near the entrance ramp to I-435 northbound from 23^rd Street. The Honda had four flat tires and Davis, according to a passenger in the vehicle, had fled on foot. Davis could not be located. Officers searched the Honda and found body armor and a backpack that contained a loaded Glock 9mm semi-automatic firearm and a Ruger .22-caliber semi-automatic firearm. The backpack also contained methamphetamine, mushrooms, and a drug ledger.

On Dec. 20, 2024, officers were conducting surveillance of Davis and followed him as he drove a BMW, which officers later learned had been stolen during a residential burglary, to a gas station. The SWAT team moved in after Davis parked at a gas pump, with law enforcement vehicles blocking his escape by pulling in behind and in front of the BMW. Davis, who initially attempted to drive away, refused to get out of the vehicle. Officers deployed several rounds of CS gas into the vehicle, shattering the windows, as well as one bean bag that struck Davis in the arm. Davis eventually got out of the car and was taken into custody.

Officers searched the BMW and found a loaded Smith & Wesson .40-caliber semi-automatic firearm shoved between the driver's seat and the center console. Officers also found a backpack that contained a loaded Ruger .45-caliber semi-automatic firearm that had been reported stolen, a box of .40-caliber ammunition, and methamphetamine.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Davis has two prior felony convictions for assault, as well as prior felony convictions for possessing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh A. Ragner. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Neighborhoods

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Updated January 10, 2025