A Ramsey man is in custody in Montgomery County following an alleged vehicle theft and allegedly fleeing from police in Vandalia and Fayette County.
Vandalia Police Chief Jeff Ray says that it was reported on Wednesday morning to the VPD that a silver 2015 Chevy Silverado was stolen from the Vandalia High School parking lot. Chief Ray says the truck was a maintenance vehicle owned by the Vandalia School District. Chief Ray says surveillance video was obtained from multiple sources and a suspect was developed and Chief Ray says that 28 year old Randal E. Howell of Ramsey was identified as the suspect. Chief Ray says that Vandalia Police and Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputies checked multiple locations in Ramsey for the vehicle on Wednesday but did not locate it. But, Chief Ray says that at 11:45 Thursday a Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the vehicle in Ramsey and the Deputy attempted to stop the vehicle and says it fled from a traffic stop. Chief Ray’s report says the Deputy was able to keep sight of the vehicle as it traveled south out of Ramsey through the country. The report says the suspect came to U.S. Route 51 from 2500 Avenue. And, suspect is said to have went south to 2475 where he turned down a dead end road. The report states the Deputy attempted to use spike strips on the stolen vehicle but the suspect drove around them and went south on Route 51. The report says the Deputy lost sight of the vehicle. The report says that a Vandalia Police Officer, who was traveling north on Route 51 to assist the Deputy met the stolen vehicle about 2 1/2 miles north of Vera Road. The Officer then turned around after the suspect as other Vandalia Police Officers set up spike strips at Vera Road. But, the suspect vehicle approached Vera Road before Officers could deploy the spike strips. The report states the suspect tried to pass a vehicle just south of Vera Road and is said to have “side swiped” a north bound truck. The report says the suspect continued south bound on Thrill Hill Road where officers followed him. Rural EMS responded to the accident and transported the driver of the “side swiped” vehicle to Fayette County Hospital with serious injuries. Chief Ray says the suspect, 28 year old Randal E. Howell of Ramsey, was later taken into custody in Montgomery County. Chief Ray adds the case is still under investigation by the Illinois State Police, Vandalia Police Department and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
We will have more on this story and the accident coming up Friday morning during NewsCenter and on www.vandaliaradio.com
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