NASHVILLE, Ill. -- A man was arrested after a lengthy car chase ended with a collision between the man and a Perry County official's car.
According to the Nashville (Illinois) Police Department (NPD), a Lieutenant from the NPD noticed a white Ford Explorer speeding along St. Route 127 near Richview Road. This spot sits near a curve in the road, through which the Ford reportedly raced around cars travelling in both directions.Â
The Nashville lieutenant tried to stop the Ford, but the car allegedly sped away. Backup police officers with the NPD reportedly set up stop sticks further down the road to try to stop the car, but the driver managed to get by without deflating the car's tires.Â
Officers followed the car out of Nashville at speeds reported over 100 mph. The Perry County Sheriff's Office was then notified of the car heading into the area.
A Pinckneyville police officer told Nashville police he set up stop sticks to try and stop the fleeing car. Upon the car's arrival into town, he reportedly hit the sticks and deflated a front tire. This did not stop the driver, though. Police say he continued swerving through Pinckneyville and is believed to have wrecked parts of the courthouse lawn.Â
Nashville police say the car was now leaking gas and the deflated tire began to spark. Law enforcement with Perry County and Pinckneyville sent multiple units for backup to try and stop the car.Â
A Perry County deputy reportedly began driving in front of the suspect south of Pinckneyville in an attempt to slow the driver's speed. Police say the driver swerved left around the deputy to pass him but then jerked right into the deputy's car.Â
Information from the Nashville Police Department say the two cars left the roadway at this point and crashed off the left side. The driver of the speeding car allegedly ran away from the scene. Upon reaching a fence, police say the suspect was stopped and taken into custody.
NPD identified the suspect as Michael Oliver, 45, of Belleville. Oliver was reportedly on the run from multiple warrants for arrest out of St. Clair County, Illinois, for around five years. Police say the warrants were for:
- Aggravated Domestic BatteryÂ
- Unlawful Restraint
- Kidnapping, x3
- Failure to Appear, Traffic Warrant
Nashville police took Oliver to the Washington County Sheriff's Office jail in Nashville. ISP was called to investigate the crash with the deputy's car. No injuries were reported.Â
According to the information provided by NPD, Oliver received new charges of:
- Aggravated Fleeing & Eluding
- Driving while License Revoked
- Speeding (greater than 35 mph)
- Improper Passing
- Operating Uninsured Vehicle
- Operating Vehicle with Expired Registration
- Unlawful Possession of Registration Plates
- Unlawful Display of Registration Plates Not Authorized for Vehicle
The NPD said Oliver may see more charges from the Perry County Sheriff's Office. For now, police say Oliver will remain in jail as a Probably Cause Affidavit was completed.
Oliver will remain innocent until proven guilty in court.Â
