Four face charges in connection with weekend pursuit by authorities
Four Union County men face charges in connection with a weekend police pursuit.
Union County State’s Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds announced the charges Monday, Nov. 29.
Patrick W. McLane, 28, of 250 Treece Ln. in rural Anna is charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, both Class 4 felonies.
McLane also is charged with one count of obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony, and one count of resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.
McLane also faces multiple traffic citations, Union County Sheriff David Livesay reported.
The state’s attorney reported that Rusty J. Smith, 32, of Spring Street in Anna, is charged with two counts of aggravating fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, both Class 4 felonies, and one count of obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony.
The pursuit began at about 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, and continued through Saturday, Nov. 27.
Officers from the Cobden Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois Conservation Police, and the Anna and Jonesboro police departments were involved in the pursuit.
Sheriff Livesay said that after the pursuit began in Cobden, it continued along Kaolin Road, Illinois Route 127, Rhine Road and Beech Grove Road.
The sheriff said the vehicle pursuit, which involved a pickup truck, came to an end after the unit crashed in a private field and wrecked in a ditch near Beech Grove Road.
McLane was reported to have been the driver of the pickup truck. Smith was reported to have been a passenger in the pickup.
After the vehicle was wrecked, McLane and Smith fled from the scene on foot, the sheriff said.
McLane was taken into custody by sheriff’s office personnel at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Dongola Post Office. He had been given a ride to Dongola. The sheriff said a taser was used in the apprehension of McLane.
Smith was taken into custody at about 2 p.m. Saturday in a wooded area near the State Forest Road in Union County.
McLane and Smith each sustained minor injuries as a result of the incident. Both were treated at Union County Hospital in Anna and then released to the custody of law enforcement personnel.
The pickup truck involved in the pursuit sustained major damage in the crash.
In connection with the incident, Justin L. Stokes, 30, of 1515 Belcher Rd. in Wolf Lake, was charged with one count of obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony; and one count of concealing a fugitive, also a Class 4 felony.
The state’s attorney said Stokes allegedly provided false information to police regarding McLane’s whereabouts as McLane concealed himself within the Belcher Road residence.
Zane W. Schaefer, 48, of 4295 State Route 3 North in Wolf Lake also is charged with one count of obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony, and one count of concealing a fugitive, also a Class 4 felony.
Schaefer allegedly provided false information to police regarding McLane’s whereabouts. Schaefer allegedly allowed McLane to hide within his residence as police searched the area for him.
Both Stokes and Schaefer were taken into custody at their residences, the sheriff said.
McLane was being held at the Tri-County Detention Center in Ullin on $100,000 bond.
Smith and Stokes also were in custody at the Tri-County Detention Center: Smith on $15,000 bond and Stokes on $20,000 bond.
Schaefer was arrested Monday afternoon, Nov. 29, and was free after posting bond.