Two Illinois men arrested on multiple charges after one steals patrol vehicle, leads officers on pursuit

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Two Illinois men face multiple drug, theft and weapons charges after one of them also stole a law enforcement vehicle and led officers on a pursuit to Illinois.

Charleston Department of Public Safety Director Robert Hearnes said around 2:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Charleston DPS received information there may be a stolen vehicle on the parking lot of the Flying J Truck Stop. The information received also indicated that the occupants were armed.

“Our officers responded and were assisted by members of the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol,” Hearnes said.

Matthew L. Nelson

Matthew L. Nelson

A DPS officer located the suspect vehicle and determined it was indeed stolen from the state of Illinois, Hearnes said. The two male occupants were taken into custody, and one of them was placed in a patrol vehicle of the sheriff’s department; the other in a Charleston DPS patrol vehicle.

The suspect vehicle was searched and a stolen firearm, stolen checks and approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine were located, Hearnes said.

“During this time, the male suspect in the sheriff’s department vehicle was able to get out of his handcuffs and stole the patrol vehicle,” Hearnes said. “He fled the parking lot of Flying J. In doing so, he almost hit three law enforcement officers. He then fled eastbound on US 60.”

William Taylor

William Taylor

The pursuit crossed into the state of Illinois, and he was finally apprehended near Buncombe, Illinois, according to Hearnes.

Matthew L. Nelson, 40, of Buncombe was charged with three counts of first degree assault on a law enforcement officer; three counts of armed criminal action; escape from custody; two counts of stealing a motor vehicle; unlawful possession of a firearm; unlawful use of a firearm; stealing a firearm; possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia; resisting arrest; and property damage. Nelson is currently being held in the state of Illinois, awaiting extradition.

William R. Taylor, 43, of Vienna, Illinois, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, stealing a motor vehicle, stealing a firearm and fraudulent Use of a credit device. Taylor is currently being held at the Mississippi County Jail on a $50,000 bond.