City, county officers involved in 4 chases

Two individuals who were taken into custody after leading area police officers on chases within the past week are facing charges in Fayette County.
A third is also facing charges after being captured in Bond County following a chase, and a fourth leading police on chase was able to avoid capture.
The first chase on Friday evening started in St. Elmo after a city officer noticed gunfire from a vehicle.
In a release issued by the St. Elmo Police Department, Chief Brock Rich said that about 6:13 p.m., part-time city officer Brian Roedl was staged in a parking lot near Interstate 70, ready to handle accidents due to incoming weather.
The release states that a vehicle exited I-70, pulling across from the patrol along Interstate Drive.
Rich said that the officer “observed gunfire coming from the vehicle.”
Roedl attempted to stop the vehicle, which headed west on Interstate 70, according to the SEPD release.
Rich said the officer increased his distance from the vehicle “when speeds became excessive in the weather conditions.”
He said the suspect vehicle lost control and wrecked before coming to rest in the driving lane, and due to weather conditions, the officer was unable to come to a complete stop and the patrol car collided with the suspect vehicle.
Rich said that one male remained on the scene and a second male fled on foot into nearby brush.
Fayette County Sheriff Chris Smith said that when he arrived, he saw one male on the ground.
The second male, Smith said, went to a nearby residence, and was taken into custody after the occupants of that residence contacted the sheriff’s office.
Rich said that one of the males and Roedl, who is a Vandalia police officer who is a part-time officer in St. Elmo, were taken to Fayette County Hospital for treatment and released.
He said that the investigation in the case is continuing and that a juvenile male was taken into custody.
According to the arrest log at the sheriff’s office, the juvenile, a 16-year-old resident of Dayton, Ohio, was arrested on charges of aggravated fleeing/attempting to elude police, reckless conduct, unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm.
The juvenile was transported to the Madison County Juvenile Center.
Frank D. Ashmore, 25, was arrested on numerous charges after leading city and county officers on a chance last Thursday.
Vandalia Police Chief Jeff Ray said that loss prevention employees at Walmart notified his department of a theft from the store.
Ray said that a short time later, while responding to the call, Assistant Chief Rob Blackerby saw the suspect vehicle on West Main Street near Midwest Tractor Sales.
A short time later, Smith said, county Deputy Steve Coody located the vehicle at the Holiday Inn Express. Upon, seeing the officer, Smith said, the driver fled from the lot and drove on Mattes Avenue to Veterans Avenue.
The suspect vehicle, Smith said, turned north on Hillsboro Road (Ill. Route 185), through the lot of South Central FS, got back onto Route 185 and headed north, turning onto Lakewood Drive.
Smith said that while the chase continued, Deputy Ronnie Stevens laid down spike strips on Lakewood, knowing that the driver would hit a dead end and turn around, Smith said.
The vehicle hit the spike strips near Thrill Hill Road, and it became disabled, with the vehicle going into a ditch, as the driver attempted to turn back onto Route 185, Smith said.
Ashmore, of Benld, was arrested on charges of criminal damage to property, fleeing/attempting to elude police, reckless conduct, driving 26-34 mph over the speed limit, retail theft, reckless driving and driving while his license is suspended.
Ashmore’s bond was set at $50,000, and a preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 5.
City and county officers also received a theft report from Walmart on Saturday.
The suspect vehicle headed west on Interstate 70, and local officers terminated the chase at the Bond County line, Smith said. They were notified that the suspect had been captured in Bond County.
On Monday, a St. Elmo officer was attempting to make a traffic stop of a vehicle without registration on U.S. Route 40, Rich said.
He said the driver of the Nissan Altima began to flee, going to I-70 and heading west.
When the speed of the suspect vehicle increased to more than 120, Rich said, officers terminated the chase, for safety reasons.
No suspects were in custody as of Tuesday morning, Rich said.