Communities rally around Officer Priebe after auto attack

Republic’s Priebe struck by vehicle at Springfield Police Station; suspect shot, arrested
 
A Springfield Police officer was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle outside the Springfield Police Station on Tuesday, June 9. According to a press release from the Springfield Police Department, Officer Mark Priebe, a 21-year-veteran of the Springfield Police Department and a Republic resident, suffered “extensive and serious injuries, including multiple rib fractures and a spinal cord injury.” At this point, it is not known if Officer Priebe will ever walk again. Priebe was injured at a time when his family was already facing a major challenge; his wife, Heather, is currently fighting cancer.
The events on June 9
The person who allegedly struck Priebe with the car is Jon Tyler F. Routh. According to the probable cause statement in the case, Routh pulled into the police station’s parking lot and was driving around in the lot; he also allegedly urinated on the station’s front doors. Priebe and another officer were trying to make contact with Routh as he drove around the police station’s parking lot.
As Priebe motioned for Routh to contact him, Routh allegedly accelerated his vehicle towards Priebe and struck him. Priebe was dragged underneath the vehicle before it hit a barrier.
The other officer fired her service weapon and hit Routh with it to stop the vehicle. Routh allegedly told another officer who pulled him from the vehicle, “You guys knew you had this coming.” Both Priebe and Routh were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment; Routh was booked into the Greene County Jail later the same day.

 According to the probable cause statement, Routh claimed in a post-Miranda interview that he was being “mentally harassed by people that the FBI or Police Department were using to target him.” He said he drove around the “Cop Shop” so the police “would think he meant business” and leave him alone. He denied intending to harm anyone and said he blacked out at the point where he allegedly struck Priebe.
Routh, 28, is currently charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
He is also charged with two counts of tampering with a motor vehicle in a separate incident, in which he allegedly defecated on a woman’s car and let the air out of her tires on Friday, June 6, at McDaniel Park in Springfield.
Communities rally around Priebe
In the days since Priebe was struck by Routh’s vehicle at the police station, several people in Greene County have rallied around Priebe and his family. A prayer vigil was held for them at the AMP at J.R. Martin Park in Republic on June 10; an estimated 200 people attended. The Cracker Jack Shack is holding a T-Shirt fundraiser for him, and a Go Fund Me page set up for Priebe has, as of press time, raised $111,923. Sno Ballz Shaved Ice held a fundraiser in front of Classic Rock Coffee in Republic on Thursday, June 10, raising $1,500 for the Priebe Family. Cedar Woods Resorts is currently auctioning off a week-long stay at their resort, coupled with a “Shack Feast” donated by Pop’s Smoke Shack in Kimberling City, and other donated prizes, estimated to be a total value of $1,900; bids can be placed on the Cedar Woods Resorts Facebook Page, under the original posting.
Priebe is also receiving support from people in Lawrence County. The Blackbird Grill and Bar donated a portion of proceeds from all sales on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13 at their restaurant; so great was the community response that the restaurant ran out of food. They donated a check for $3,000 to the Priebe Family on Monday, June 15. Also, the Aurora Baptist Temple will hold a prayer vigil for Priebe and his family at Oak Park in Aurora on Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m., under the direction of Pastor Nathan Burch.
Those who wish to send cards of encouragement to the Priebe family can mail them to: PO Box 422 Republic, MO 65738. Vance Chiropractic in Republic is accepting food or Wal-Mart gift cards on behalf of the family; their address is 851 South Colorado Ave., Republic, 65738. For more information on how to help the Priebe family, including what fundraisers are being held to benefit the family or where to make a monetary donation, go online to the PrayersforPriebe Facebook page.