Attempt to serve warrant leads to high-speed chase in Princeton, ILL.

Wed, 03/29/2017 - 3:23pm — Diane Dyer

PRINCETON — Bureau County Deputies attempting to serve an out-of-state warrant at a Tiskilwa residence wound up in a high-speed pursuit when the subject fled the scene.

The man, whose name had not been released Tuesday but was identified as being from Kentucky, fled from a home in a white 4-door sedan with Kentucky plates and headed toward Princeton at approximately 4:30 Tuesday afternoon.

The man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, drove erratically through the south end of Princeton, hitting a curb at the corner of Thompson Street and south Euclid Avenue, taking out a fire hydrant and grass in several yards before coming to a stop in the front yard of a home in the 1000 block of South Euclid.

After a short foot chase, Bureau County Sheriff's deputies and Princeton police officers were able to apprehend him about two blocks from the crash scene. The driver was transported to Perry Memorial Hospital for his injuries.

Chief Deputy Bret Taylor of the sheriff's department declined at the scene to say what the warrant was for, deferring comment until the investigation is complete.

Reprinted by permission from the News Tribune, Kim Shute, reporter

Richard (Richie) Smith

According to Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward the individual arrested was Richard (Richie) Smith of Morgantown. Smith is wanted for Wanton Endangerment of a Police Officer and Fleeing and Evading due to incident on January 5, 2017, with Morgantown Police Officer James Embry.

ORGINAL STORY- Beech Tree News

On Thursday, January 5, at approximately 10:00 p.m. Officer James Embry of the Morgantown Police Department was attempting to locate Richard (Richie) Smith in order to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.

Embry located Smith's vehicle backed into a parking lot next to another vehicle at an apartment complex located on Sawmill Road in Morgantown. Embry, believing the suspect to be inside the apartment, parked his cruiser at an angle and in front of the suspect's vehicle.

When Officer Embry exited his cruiser, he realized the suspect and another person were still sitting inside the car with the engine running. Officer Embry opened Smith's door and told him he was under arrest and to step out of the vehicle. Smith refused and grabbed the steering wheel. Embry then leaned into the car to dislodge Smith's grip on the wheel and remove him from the vehicle.
During the struggle, Smith managed to slam the vehicle into gear and step on the accelerator. Officer Embry, at this point being dragged and fearing he was going to be crushed between his parked cruiser and Smith's vehicle, discharged two (2) rounds - both of which struck the vehicle.
Smith, managing to clear the cruiser, then fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Smith's vehicle was located at 10:13 p.m. behind a residence at 935 Russellville Road. Smith fled on foot and was tracked for over a mile before his tracks intersected with A.T. Lane and U.S. Hwy. 231, where he was believed to have been picked up by an accomplice.
Smith's passenger, Lisa Dockery, was taken into custody for questioning and later released. She stated that Smith was driving fast and crazy on the snow and ice-covered roads.
Smith is now wanted for Wanton Endangerment of a Police Officer and Fleeing and Evading, in addition to the original indictment warrants.
Agencies assisting at the scene were officers with the Butler County Sheriff's Department and Butler County EMS - along with notification being made to the Kentucky State Police.
Officer Embry was initially placed on standard administrative leave and will be returning to work on his regular shift rotation after having been found to have acted in accordance with Kentucky State law and the Morgantown Police Department policy.