Media reports say a Mt. Vernon, IL man fled police in a stolen vehicle through Williamson County on Saturday.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office indicated the chase began when officers in Herrin attempted to pull a vehicle over for traffic violations early Saturday afternoon. Reports said the vehicle took off, leading police on a chase through the county. Police later attempted a rolling road block which did slow the vehicle to a near stop, then the suspect reportedly went off the road and through a median, and onto another county road, where police conducted what’s known as a PIT, or Precision Immobilization Technique, maneuver. The vehicle was eventually stopped as police blocked the vehicle in.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jake A. Gilmore of Mt. Vernon. Two other passengers were in the vehicle. They were not identified and removed from the vehicle and detained.
Gilmore was taken to the Williamson County Jail. He faces charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving and driving with a revoked license.
The Williamson County Sheriff credited police with quickly locating the stolen vehicle, saying the vehicle owner was still in the process or reporting it stolen when the pursuit took place.
The investigation remains ongoing.