MARION – One person was recently arrested after leading the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office on a chase in a stolen vehicle.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies, led by Sheriff Jeff Diederich, responded to a report of a stolen vehicle around 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15.
The vehicle was last reported departing southbound on Water Street from Johnston City and was described as a yellow pickup truck with no registration plates.
While traveling westbound on Stotlar Road near Illinois Route 37, Sheriff Diederich saw a yellow pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction of travel with no visible registration plates and attempted to stop the vehicle.
The suspect vehicle fled at a high rate of speed leading Sheriff Diederich and pursuing deputies on a high speed chase through the south side of Johnston City and across rural Williamson County.
While in Johnston City, the suspect vehicle traveled westbound on 5th Street crossing Illinois Route 37 at a high rate of speed, without regard for cross traffic, and disobeying the stop sign. The suspect disobeyed a total of seven stop signs throughout the pursuit without yielding to cross traffic.
After turning southbound on Prosperity Road from 5th Street, the suspect vehicle swerved into the passing lane striking Sheriff Diederich’s patrol vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued southbound on Prosperity Road crossing Stotlar Road at a high rate of speed, without regard for cross traffic, and disobeying the stop sign.
The vehicle continued southbound on Prosperity Road from Stotlar Road during which time it reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour operating the vehicle with a willful and wonton disregard for the safety of persons and property.
After observing the suspect vehicle cross major traffic intersections at high rates of speed without slowing for cross traffic, traveling over 100 miles per hour causing oncoming traffic to seek refuge by maneuvering off the roadway, and the general risk to public safely, a precision immobilization technique (PIT) was conducted disabling the suspect vehicle.
The precision immobilization technique (PIT) resulted in the suspect vehicle losing traction, completing a rotation on the roadway, and coming to rest in the open field to the north of Prosperity Road.
As the vehicle came to rest, Sheriff Diederich and pursuing deputies exited their patrol vehicles and were able to apprehend the occupants without further incident.
The driver identified as Kassie M. Pope was taken into custody. Pope who was discovered to be on parole, was issued the following citations: No Valid Registration, Disobeying Stop Sign seven times, Criminal Damage/Govt Property, Obstructing Justice, Reckless Driving, Driving w/ License Revoked, Possession Stolen Vehicle, Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding
Sheriff Jeff Diederich stated, “Witnessing firsthand the disregard for public safety as the driver of a stolen vehicle flees, crossing major intersections at speeds approaching 100 mph without regard for cross traffic, will result in a quick and efficient law enforcement response here in Williamson County.”
Pope was transported to and remanded into the custody of the Williamson County Jail.