Two Centralia residents have been arrested after fleeing a car that crashed in Washington County after a Friday night chase that reached 110 miles per hour, with shots fired at the pursuing officer.
The driver of the car, 25-year-old Dylan Foutch of East 11th, remains in the Washington County Jail at Nashville after being arrested for armed violence, aggravated discharge of a firearm at police, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated fleeing and eluding police, possession of a defaced firearm, obstructing justice, possession with intent to deliver 10 to 30 grams of methamphetamine and on an Illinois Department of Corrections warrant.
The passenger, 37-year-old Brian Ely of North Poplar Street, was arrested for disobeying a peace officer, resisting arrest, and possession of ten to 30 grams of methamphetamine. He was released on a notice to appear in court.
Centralia Police Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says the chase began with an attempt to stop Foutch when he was driving southbound on Poplar through downtown without any lights on. Speeds reached 70 miles per hour as the car ran a red light at Calumet. After leaving the city limits on US 51, speeds reached 110 miles per hour before the car turned at the Irvington-Dix Exit onto Route 177. When approaching the Irvington City Limits, three shots were fired from the fleeing vehicle at the squad car. Nothing was struck by the bullets. The chase continued to east of Holyeton, where the vehicle turned southbound onto Meridian Road. The car traveled another mile and a half before running off the road into the roadside ditch.
Whritenour says both the driver and the passenger then fled on foot in different directions. The officer pursued Foutch and took him into custody. A search then began for Ely, who was located about a quarter mile away with the help of the Nashville canine.
A search of the vehicle turned up a 38 caliber revolver with the serial number defaced. The gun reportedly had four spent shells and one live round remaining.
The Centralia canine was called to search for items believed to have been dumped by the car’s occupants near the site of the wreck. A baggie containing 12 grams of methamphetamine was allegedly located, leading to the meth charges.
Whritenour says vehicle involved in the chase was towed back to Centralia where it will be gone through by the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation in an attempt to find additional evidence.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department, along with Central City, Wamac, and Nashville Police, all provided mutual aid on the scene. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department helped patrol Centralia while its officers were out of town at the crash site.
The chase began at 10:09 on Friday evening.
