PRESS RELEASE
October 14th, 2008
Pursuit Ends in Suspect Dying in Crash
On 10-14-08 at 2:20 AM a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputy saw a vehicle (2002 Chrysler) disobey a stop sign at 15th at Lynch, E. St. Louis. The Deputy stopped the vehicle for the violation. When the Deputy approached the vehicle the driver placed the vehicle in reverse and attempted to run over the Deputy. The Deputy leaped out of the way, barely avoiding being ran over. The driver then put the vehicle in forward and sped away very fast. The Deputy ran to his car and pursued the suspect vehicle and called on the police radio for other units. The suspect vehicle made several evasive turns but lost control and skidded over a curb near 15th and Summit. Deputies started to approach the vehicle but the driver put the vehicle in reverse and rammed his car into a Sheriff’s Squad car. The suspect vehicle then left the scene again. Deputies continued to try and stop the vehicle.
The suspect vehicle continued fleeing from Deputies and Deputies began to loose sight of the vehicle. Due to the suspect’s dangerous driving Deputies backed away and temporarily lost sight of the vehicle. Deputies saw the vehicle again as it became involved in a traffic crash in the 1900/2000 block of St. Louis Ave, E. St. Louis at railroad tracks. Deputies ran up to the driver but found him pinned inside the vehicle. EMS and the Fire Department were dispatched. The suspect was later transported to Kenneth Hall Hospital and later pronounced deceased.
To ensure a fair and impartial investigation, Illinois State Police Accident Reconstructionist were called to the scene to handle the investigation. They found in the suspect vehicle a stolen .380 semi-automatic pistol, crack cocaine, marijuana and Ecstasy pills. The deceased suspect also has a substantial drug criminal history and a suspended driver’s license.
The total incident is still under investigation by Sheriff’s Investigators and Illinois State Police. The deceased suspect’s name is not being released at this time to ensure family members have been contacted first. Please contact the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office when that information is released.
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Captain Steve Johnson
Chief Investigator
Criminal Investigation Section
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department
618-277-3505 x5715
