MCDONOUGH COUNTY, Ill. (NEWS3) — Police arrested three men after stealing a vehicle and leading deputies on a pursuit Sunday night into early Monday morning.
McDonough County Sheriff Nick Petitgout said a resident in rural Macomb Township reported his vehicle was stolen in the 1400 block of East 1600th Street around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Petitgout said the caller watched his truck leave northbound towards Bushnell.
A deputy located the stolen vehicle, a maroon 2007 Chevrolet truck, near the Bushnell Police Department. Petitgout said the deputy turned on his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle at Ludwig Street and Illinois Route 41 in Bushnell. The stolen vehicle was stopped long enough for the deputy to get out of his vehicle, but then the truck sped away. Petitgout said the deputy pursued the stolen vehicle southbound on Illinois Route 41.
Another deputy found the vehicle near Bardoplh, but the driver of the stolen vehicle drove through a field near the intersection of East 1800th and North 1300th to avoid the deputies. The vehicle then traveled north into Bardolph after it turned off its headlights and hit a ditch at the intersection of Hanna Street and Poplar Street. Petitgout said both of the people in the vehicle got out and ran on foot. After a short chase, both suspects were caught and arrested by deputies and identified just before 12:15 a.m., according to the sheriff.
Police arrested William N. Kimmel, 19, of Loami; Mason E. Fuller, 19, of Ipava; and Christopher M. Fernandez, 20, of Bardolph.
Police said Kimmel, who was the driver, was transported to McDonough District Hospital for an injury he sustained in the crash. The passenger, Mason Fuller, was taken to the McDonough County Jail. Police said Kimmel was released from the hospital hours later and transported to the McDonough County Jail. A third suspect was arrested, Christopher Fernandez, for his participation in the burglary and theft of the vehicle.
William Kimmel was charged with burglary, theft over $500.00, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding, resisting a peace officer, and aggravated reckless driving. Kimmel was issued several traffic citations. His bond is set at $50,000.
Mason Fuller was charged with burglary, theft over $500.00, possession of a stolen vehicle, and resisting a peace officer. His bond is set at $20,000.
Christopher Fernandez was charged with burglary, theft over $500.00, and resisting a peace officer. Fernandez posted bond and was released on Sunday.
