Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for December 20, 2006 CAIRO EDITION OF "COPS"

From the Southern Illinoisan...

Cairo men arrested following high-speed chase across Jackson County

by andrea hahn, the southern

JACKSON COUNTY - It was a chase worthy of Hollywood.

A stream of police cars followed a vehicle reported stolen at speeds between 85 and 100 mph from Murphysboro to Hurst Monday night, Murphysboro Chief Jeff Bock said Tuesday.

The vehicle chase ended with a crash. The pursuit, however, continued on foot until two 18-year-old men from Cairo were in custody. They remain in the Jackson County Jail in Murphysboro; their bond will be set at 11 a.m. today.

Murphysboro police were alerted to a report of a car stolen from the parking lot of the Veach Shell gas station on Walnut Street Monday at about 9:10 p.m. The owner of the car said he had left it unlocked and running when he went inside the convenience store. He said he saw two men get into his car and take off from the gas station.

Murphysboro police spotted the car being driven on Walnut Street a short time later, and attempted to pull the vehicle over. However, the suspects, since identified as Byron DeShawn Gardner and Corey Montell Williams, didn't pull over - they fled on Illinois 149.

Murphysboro police were joined by Jackson County deputies and eventually by officers from Williamson County, Carterville and the state police. Bock said the Cairo pair drove through several roadblocks on their way to Hurst. He said the roadblocks were intersection blocks and were set up partly to keep other traffic from getting caught up in the chase.

When the Cairo men drove into Hurst, they crashed into a Hurst police vehicle driven by Chief Ron Harvel, who was part of a rolling roadblock. Harvel said there was no way he was going to let the suspects endanger his community by driving so recklessly.

"I was determined they were not going to continue those speeds," he said. "There are a lot of children here and a lot of them cross the street in town. I was trying to get the chase slowed down."

Harvel was successful. After the suspects crashed the vehicle into his squad car, he said, they got out and fled, each in a different direction. Harvel said Gardner, the driver, made it about four blocks before police found him trying to hide.

Williams was caught within a block, Bock said. He apparently stumbled and fell, possibly intoxicated, Bock said.

When the Hurst car was hit, it bumped a Murphysboro police car. Both vehicles had minor damage. Both chiefs said the vehicles are drivable.

"Everything worked out for the best," Harvel said. "No one went to the hospital and the suspects were arrested."

Bock said he felt the chase never got out of hand and that he followed Murphysboro's pursuit policy.

"It's up to the on-duty police supervisor (to call off the chase)," he said. "In this case, that person (Bock himself) happened to be right in the middle of it."

Gardner is charged with theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing at more than 21 miles per hour over the speed limit and DUI. Williams is charged with theft and possession of a stolen vehicle. Both have a court appearance set for Jan. 11.