Fleeing Suspects Throw Explosive Devices at MO Police
Two suspects who purportedly threw explosive devices at Joplin, MO, police during a traffic stop and ensuing pursuit Monday were captured later in the day by deputies.
Two suspects who purportedly threw explosive devices at Joplin, MO, police during a traffic stop and ensuing pursuit Monday were captured later in the day by deputies with the Jasper County Sheriff's Department, reports the Joplin Globe.
Deputies located Keith A. Wald, 34, of Joplin, and Nathan J. Felton, 22, of Neosho, at a residence outside the city and took them into custody on felony counts.
At 3:28 a.m., a Joplin police officer stopped a Ford F-150 pickup truck pulling a trailer at Fourth Street and Sergeant Avenue for having no working lights on the trailer. The officer had made contact with the two male occupants of the truck and a second officer had arrived on the scene and exited his vehicle when the driver started backing up the truck and took off.
"While fleeing from the stop, (the driver) threw an explosive device out of the driver's side window, which exploded approximately 15 feet from me," Officer Joel Taber later wrote in a probable-cause affidavit. The affidavit identifies the driver as Wald.
A police pursuit ensued, during which a second explosive device was thrown from the passenger side of the truck and exploded next to Taber's patrol vehicle, according to the affidavit. A Joplin Police Department news release stated that the second explosive device was thrown from the vehicle at E Street and Sergeant Avenue.
No deputies were injured by the explosive devices.
More Patrol

Team Wendy Introduces the EXFIL Endurance Ballistic Helmet, Engineered to Reduce the Burden of Extended Wear
Team Wendy has launched its EXFIL Endurance, a new lightweight ballistic helmet engineered to deliver protection, comfort, and fit during demanding, extended operations.
Read More →
The First Responders Children’s Foundation National First Responders Day Roll Call of Heroes Ceremony Returns to Times Square, NYC
First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), in collaboration with T-Mobile, will host the Roll Call of Heroes ceremony in Times Square to commemorate National First Responders Day on Wednesday, Oct. 28. During the event, FRCF will present 18 Hero Awards.
Read More →
Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products for Law Enforcement Professionals at IACP 2026
Streamlight will showcase its newest lights for law enforcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference & Expo. Featured lights will include the TLR-3 X, the PolyTac 1X, and more.
Read More →
Streamlight Portable Scene Light III Wins 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year Award
Streamlight’s Portable Scene Light III has won the 2026 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) New Product of the Year Award in the Lighting category.
Read More →
Adept Armor Introduces Two New Rifle Plates
Adept Armor has launched two new Level IV ballistic plates, the Emperor and the Archon Mark 2, which brings Adept Armor’s new Quatroid ceramic to the high-threat, performance-value center of the range at 5.2 pounds.
Read More →
POLICE Product Test: Benchmade Bailout
The Benchmade Bailout is a slim, lightweight carry knife with a deep-ride pocket clip and comes in a variety of blade steels and scales. Here is a detailed review of the Taiga Green Bailout, released earlier this year.
Read More →
NLEOMF Announces July 2026 Officer of the Month
NLEOMF honored a Michigan deputy sheriff as the July 2026 Officer of the Month for rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a Fourth of July crash.
Read More →
Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products at National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo 2026
Streamlight will showcase its latest lights, including the Portable Scene Light III and the LiteBox 1Million, at the 2026 National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo.
Read More →
The 2027 World Police & Fire Games Set for Perth, Australia
The 2027 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) will take place in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 21, 2027.
Read More →
5.11 Partners with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to Support #ForThe343
5.11 has joined the nationwide movement honoring the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
Read More →