1. Fulton County Man Crashed into SJPD Squad Cars During Chase Sentenced
2. Fulton Co. Man Crashed Into SJPD Squad Cars Sentenced.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : A resident of Fulton County in Illinois has been sentenced to prison after being involved in a police chase that caused damage to multiple vehicles in Jacksonville earlier this year.
Jeff Smith, aged 45 and hailing from Canton, admitted guilt to a charge of aggravated battery towards a police officer during a court appearance at Morgan County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
The incident took place on the afternoon of October 26th, as West Central Joint Dispatchers received reports of a reckless driver in the vicinity of East College and East State Streets in Jacksonville. Witnesses informed dispatchers that the vehicle had been involved in a minor collision with another vehicle. Jacksonville Police Officers swiftly responded to the scene and spotted a blue SUV matching the description provided by the callers. As officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the SUV ran over a stop sign and drove through a boulevard. Despite officers’ attempts to intervene, the driver, later identified as Smith, hurled obscenities at them before accelerating away. Smith proceeded to drive recklessly at high speeds, veering off the road multiple times. The pursuit continued for approximately two blocks until Smith’s vehicle turned onto South Main Street, where it collided with a patrol car belonging to the South Jacksonville Police Department. The vehicle then turned back onto East Michigan Avenue, striking another South Jacksonville Police squad car before coming to a halt.
Upon exiting the vehicle, Smith allegedly defied officer commands and attempted to retrieve a weapon from within the vehicle. Law enforcement officers resorted to using non-lethal munitions, including a taser and beanbags, to subdue Smith and place him under arrest. A South Jacksonville officer required medical evaluation at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital following the collision with Smith’s vehicle.
Following the incident, Smith was formally charged with aggravated battery towards a peace officer, as well as aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and various traffic offenses. However, as part of a plea agreement reached on Tuesday, the additional charges were dropped. Morgan County Chief Judge Chris Reif imposed a sentence of 8 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, along with one year of mandatory supervised release. Smith was also ordered to pay a $500 county fine and recommended for mental health and substance abuse treatment during his incarceration. He was granted credit for the 118 days he had already served in the Morgan County Jail.
The conclusion of this case underscores the serious consequences of engaging in reckless behaviour that endangers the safety of others and law enforcement officials. It serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to traffic laws and respecting the authority of police officers while on the road..
Fulton Co. man crashed into SJPD squad cars during chase
Fulton Co. man sentenced for crashing into SJPD squad cars.
