On 06.14.21 at 16:43 hours Illinois State Police Dist. #19 issued an officer safety bulletin reference a stolen vehicle and aggravated battery with a firearm in White County. The vehicle a 2012 Gray Subaru had last been seen in the Grayville city area of Edwards and White Counties. The subject was thought to be armed with a shotgun at the time of the broadcast.
At 17:03 the Mt. Carmel Police Department observed the vehicle in Mt. Carmel an attempted to stop the Subaru. The Subaru led city Police Officer's and Wabash County Sheriff Deputies on a chase from N 1400 Blvd. (outer Poplar Rd.) covering E 840 Rd. across to Wabash 17 Ave. ending back up on Friendsville Ave. ultimately ending on N 2270 Blvd. at a residence. The Subaru continued through several fields and tree lines before stopping in a shed. The male who was described as wearing a black shirt with several face tattoos, fled on foot.
A foot pursuit ensued and officers lost sight of the fleeing subject. A man hunt ensued and the suspect was eventually taken into custody just into Lawrence Co. at 21:08 hrs. by ISP Dist. 12.
Ashton T. Harper, 27, of Mt. Vernon IL was wanted on a Wayne CO. warrant for a stolen vehicle, as well as traffic charges in Mt. Carmel in connection with this incident. Harper remains in the Wabash County jail.
The Sheriff's Office and MCPD were assisted by ISP Dist. 12 & 19, (troopers, investigators, SWAT, and Air Ops) the Lawrence Co. Sheriff's Office and the McLeansboro Police department. The incident is still on going as more charges are anticipated.
