Multiple County Fugitive Chase Leaves A Path of Destruction
KAMPSVILLE - The Calhoun and Greene County Sheriff’s Offices have witnessed their share of crazy incidents, but the one that occurred Tuesday afternoon near the Kampsville Ferry may be one they don’t forget.
Greene County Sheriff’s Office chased a suspect to the Kampsville Ferry landing area, where the man who apparently was wanted on arrest warrants, drove his vehicle directly into the Illinois River. The man escaped the car, then proceeded to swim across the wide river channel.
When the man landed on the other side, he immediately landed at a campground where he stole a truck, then continued to try to evade police for about 20 more miles, when he crashed the truck, driving on only three tires and a rim near Detroit. The man was quickly apprehended by officers after he crashed. The Pittsfield Police, Greene and Calhoun Sheriff’s Office were all involved in the arrest of the suspect.
The Kampsville Ferry was shutdown until the man’s car was removed from the Illinois River.
“The man literally swam across the river, got to a campground, stole a pickup, sideswiped an officer and continued north bound with with one flat tire up Route 100 and then to 106 close to Detroit,” Calhoun Sheriff William Heffington said. He ended up losing control of the vehicle on Route 106. He was taken into custody by Pittsfield officers.”
Alton hair stylist Wade Gibson had his truck parked at a Kampsville riverside campsite where it was stolen, then wrecked by the suspect near Detroit. He was in Alton at the time of the theft.
Gibson’s sister, Debbie Becker, said she initially tried to help the man because she felt he was disoriented after running his vehicle into the river. Once the Kampsville Ferry personnel informed her he was a fugitive, she said she was afraid and ultimately mad when he ran from police and stole her brother’s truck. “The man just looked at me and I think I threw him off,” she said. “I don’t think he expected a person being there at random.”
Becker proceeded to help guide a boat over to bring police to the Kampsville side, then let them use her car in the chase.
The man will likely face charges in multiple jurisdictions following his arrest near Detroit. More will be released on Wednesday about the man, what charges he faces and reasons for the police chase. Heffington said he heard the man had warrants out for his arrest, but he hadn’t confirmed that yet when interviewed late Tuesday.
