Two arrested after two-county car chase ends in Pike County

PIKE COUNTY, Ill. — Jade I. Edwards, 19, of Nebo, Ill., and an unnamed juvenile were captured, arrested and charged Monday after a two-county car chase ended in Pike County.

The Pike County Sheriff’s Department received information regarding a motor vehicle that had been stolen out of Lawrence County, Ala. The stolen vehicle originally was located in Calhoun County, Ill., by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department. After the vehicle fled Calhoun County, the Pike County Sheriff’s Department took over pursuit.

Pike County deputies eventually conducted a PIT maneuver — a pursuit tactic by which a pursuing car can force a fleeing car to turn sideways abruptly, causing the driver to lose control and stop — to disable the fleeing vehicle. Both the driver and passenger fled from the vehicle on foot.

The driver, a juvenile, was taken into custody a short distance away. He was arrested and lodged in the Adams County Youth Home. He was charged with unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, no valid driver’s license and resisting arrest.

A private citizen assisting the Pike County Sheriff’s Department detained Edwards, the passenger. He was arrested on a Pike County warrant for criminal sexual abuse and on an original charge of resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

The Illinois State Police assisted with the investigation.