MADISON COUNTY, Ill. — A man is in custody after leading police on two pursuits in Madison County overnight, injuring a bystander and ramming a police chief's patrol car, police said.
South Roxana Police Chief Bob Coles said in a Monday release that the incident started just after midnight when an officer tried to pull over a suspected impaired driver. A pursuit began, ending in East Alton when the suspect crashed into another vehicle. The suspect vehicle then drove off with heavy damage.
The pursuing officer notified Chief Coles, who came to the scene to check on the condition of the other driver and officer.
The driver of the other car was injured and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police did not have an update on the extent of that person's injuries or their condition.
The chief and an officer canvassed the area in the chief's patrol car, believing the driver hadn't gotten very far due to the damage. They found the vehicle and driver parked behind a closed business in Alton on Fosterburg Road.
He then struck the chief's car on Fosterburg Road. Another pursuit started when they tried to take him into custody. According to Illinois State Police, who were called in to investigate the crash involving the police car, police pulled in front of the suspect to stop him on the 4000 block of Fosterburg Road. The suspect then struck the back end of the cruiser as it drove away.
He eventually jumped out of the vehicle in Godfrey, Coles said. After a short foot chase, he was taken into custody.
The suspect is a 44-year-old man from Edwardsville, according to ISP.
The man was taken to the South Roxana Police Department. His name is being withheld pending formal charges, Coles said. Police will be seeking multiple counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
