Friday, Jan. 18 2013 6:22PM

Charges file in attempted carjacking case in Lee’s Summit

Robert Rule, 19, charged in connection with carjackings in Lee’s Summit, Independence

By Toriano Porter

tporter@lsjournal.com

A robbery spree that began in Independence, ventured through Lee’s Summit and ended in Cass County is over after the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office charged 19-year-old Robert J. Rule with a total of four felony counts relating to an attempted carjacking in Lee’s Summit and also an earlier carjacking that occurred in Independence.

The Lee’s Summit Police Department confirmed the arrest in a press release. According to Lee’s Summit Police Sgt. Chris Depue, Rule was charged with first degree robbery, a Class A felony and armed criminal action in the Independence case and attempted first degree robbery and armed criminal action in the Lee’s Summit incident.

Bond was set at $200,000.

Rule was taken into custody in Cass County shortly after an incident at a 7-11 early Friday morning in Lee’s Summit.

According to Depue at 3:15 a.m. officers were called to the 7-11 convenience store located in the 900 block of S.W. Oldham Parkway in regards to an attempted carjacking. When officers arrived, they made contact with the victim who told them that he was parked at the gas pumps when he was approached by a suspect, later identified as Rule, who brandished a handgun and ordered him to give up his vehicle.

As Rule entered the driver’s side of the vehicle, the victim entered the passenger side of the vehicle and began struggling with Rule. As the struggle continued, Rule attempted to drive out of the parking lot, but lost control of the vehicle as it exited the parking lot and left the roadway just beyond the entrance to the parking lot. Rule then exited the victim’s vehicle and ran back to a vehicle that was waiting for him in the parking lot.

Rule fled the area in a vehicle heading south on S.W. Ward Road. Officers that were arriving in the area attempted to catch up to the fleeing vehicle as it left the scene, but were never able to close the distance and attempt to stop the car.

Officers followed the vehicle to the area of Ward Road and 150 Highway before disregarding their attempts to catch up with it. The victim was not injured during the incident

After fleeing from Lee’s Summit officers, Rule was eventually located by Cass County Sheriff’s deputies and Belton Police officers and taken into custody at an address in Cass County.

According to published reports, police said Rule may be part of a group of people suspected of breaking into cars in Belton and Lee’s Summit earlier Friday morning. Two other members of the group were taken into custody after showing up at Center Point Medical Center in Independence asking for medical attention.