3 arrested after high-speed chase, robbery of cash and cigarettes at South County gas station

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) — Three men were arrested after a robbery at a South County gas station led to a high-speed chase Tuesday morning.

Craig Hudson, 36, of the 1900 block of Mora Lane in Jennings, Missouri, and Ricardo Cole, 47, of the 8500 block of Red Fir Drive in St. Louis, Missouri, were charged with first-degree robbery. Frederick Smith, 39, of the 2500 block of Coleman Street in St. Louis, Missouri, was charged with resisting arrest by fleeing. Hudson and Cole are being held on just $100,000 in cash, with no 10 percent bail. Smith is being held on just $50,000 in cash, with no 10 percent bail.

According to police, on Tuesday around 2:25 a.m., Hudson and Cole entered a Quiktrip located at 2030 Union Road, where Hudson began talking with a manager while Cole rummaged through the cash register to steal money. At one point, Hudson walked behind the counter and the manager saw Cole and Hudson taking money from the register. Cole then reached for his belt, implying he had a weapon, to which the manager backed away. Hudson and Cole left the Quiktrip and walked toward a car driven by Smith.

Police attempted to arrest Smith, but Smith refused to give in. Police say at that point, Smith reached speeds in excess of 100 mph, ran red lights and stop signs and drove into oncoming traffic.

When police arrested the three men, they found a large quantity of cash, cigarettes, chargers and other miscellaneous items from the Quiktrip in the vehicle; Cole admitted to stealing the items.

The St. Louis County Police Department, South County District, is handling the investigation.

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