Wright City police arrested a Franklin County man last week after he led an officer on a high-speed chase in a stolen truck.

George J. Adams, 44, of Gerald, was charged with motor vehicle tampering, fleeing arrest, property damage and misdemeanor stealing on March 3.

Early that morning, police said a chase began when Adams fled a traffic stop for a broken headlight. According to an arrest report, Adams was driving a 1986 Toyota truck on South First Street near Mittler Brothers. When an officer attempted to pull him over at 3:30 a.m., Adams allegedly sped away onto South Stringtown Road.

Adams reached up to 88 mph while fleeing the officer, police said. While trying to make a left turn onto Archer Road, he lost control of the truck and rolled it onto its side. Adams then exited the vehicle and surrendered without further incident, police said.

The arrest report states the license plate on the truck Adams was driving was registered to a different vehicle and owner. Inspection of the truck revealed the ignition had been tampered with to start the vehicle without a key, police said.

Adams was taken to the hospital following the crash. A short time later, he spoke to police and allegedly admitted to stealing the vehicle by hot wiring it while it was parked at Wright City Hardware.

Police said Adams refused to say how he got the license plate that was attached to the truck.

Adams appeared in court March 4 before Associate Circuit Judge Richard Scheibe, who set his bond at $15,000 cash or surety. His next court date was scheduled for March 11.