A 26-year-old Kimberling City resident faces multiple felony charges following an early morning chase that ended with him diving into Table Rock Lake, injuring three Stone County deputies during his arrest, according to court records and law enforcement statements.
Gavin Thor Lundgren was arrested July 18 after leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit that began around 1:50 a.m. when deputies clocked his 2004 Chevrolet Malibu traveling at nearly 75 mph in a 45-mph zone. Rather than pull over, Lundgren accelerated across county roads before abandoning his vehicle and diving off a bridge into the water below.
Video released by the Stone County Sheriff's Office shows Lundgren sprinting across the two-lane span before launching himself into Table Rock Lake. The sheriff's office statement noted that "this was definitely a first and luckily he survived the fall."
Once deputies extracted Lundgren from the water, he resisted arrest. According to the probable cause statement, Lundgren headbutted two of the three deputies involved. Court documents describe the deputies' injuries as including facial bruising, cuts to their hands, elbows and forearms, and abrasions.
Lundgren faces three counts of third-degree assault on a special victim, resisting arrest for a felony, resisting arrest by fleeing, and careless driving. He is being held in the Stone County Jail without bond pending his court appearance.
High-speed pursuits for traffic infractions have drawn scrutiny in recent years, with some police departments restricting chases to serious felonies rather than minor violations due to public safety concerns.
