A 16-year-old Mt. Vernon juvenile boy is in custody after leading Jefferson County and Mt. Vernon Police on a lengthy chase that ended with all five of the occupants jumping out of the vehicle near Good Samaritan Hospital and their car crashing into two Mt. Vernon squad cars.
Jefferson County Chief Deputy Blaine Uhls says the chase began when Mt. Vernon Police spotted the car that was being sought by Nashville, Illinois Police for felony theft of liquor. It wound around Mt. Vernon, onto I-64 and 57, and as far north as Dix at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
Stop sticks had been placed out on 28th Street near Veterans Memorial Drive. While the car swerved to avoid the sticks, a tire blew when hitting the curve. However, the chase continued back onto I-64 and 57 before returning to the area of Good Samaritan Hospital where the five jumped from the car and it hit the Mt. Vernon squad cars.
Uhls says all five occupants were rounded up, but only the juvenile driver was held in detention at Franklin County until making a court appearance. The other four were released pending further investigation.
Mt. Vernon Police had first tried to stop the car at 9:35 Sunday night, with the chase through Jefferson County lasting 20 to 30 minutes.
