A 37-year-old former Salem man now faces two federal weapons charges in connection with shots fired at a Wamac Police Officer last month. A grand jury indicted Ian Merideth who had been living in DuQuoin for possession of stolen firearms and felon in possession of a firearm.
Merideth is currently being held in the Clinton County Jail in lieu of $800,000 bond on three counts of attempted murder along with aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer, aggravated battery to a police officer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Wamac Police Chief Steve Prather says Merideth fled on foot on July 9th after saying he had a gun as the officer was beginning to make an arrest on an outstanding Marion County warrant. As he was fleeing on foot in the 300 block of West 15th, Merideth allegedly turned and fired four shots at the officer. Merideth was arrested a short time later when multiple officers surrounded him at gunpoint.
Meredith was last in Clinton County Court on August 4th when he pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial. A pretrial conference is currently scheduled for September first.
In the federal indictment, Merideth is accused of possessing, concealing, storing, bartered and disposal of one or more stolen weapons. The indictment lists seven weapons that had allegedly been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe the firearms were stolen. The second count of a felon in possession of a firearm accuses Merideth of having a .357 revolver and six cartridges in his possession with a previous conviction of arson in Clay County Court.
US Prosecutors are also seeking to forfeit all seven of the weapons and ammunition involved or used in the alleged commission of the offense.
