A 20-year-old northeast Missouri man is facing several charges in the death of a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper.
Serghei Pavel Comerzan of Mexico, Missouri, was charged yesterday with second-degree murder, resisting arrest and other counts for an August chase that resulted in the death of trooper James Bava. Comerzan is jailed on $100,000 bond.
Bava wrecked his patrol car Aug. 28 after observing a motorcyclist commit a traffic violation and giving chase. Authorities say Comerzan was traveling at 105 mph when the trooper tried to stop him on a highway in Audrain County. The patrol car left the roadway, struck a ditch, fence and trees, and caught fire.