HERRIN – A man was arrested and cited for Violation of Sex Offender Registry – Duty to Register and Resisting Arrest and several motor and traffic violations after leading the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office on a pursuit on his motorcycle early Thursday morning in Herrin.
According to the sheriff’s office, Billy J. Jeralds was taken to the Williamson County Jail just after midnight.
Deputies were in the area of Oak Street and 22nd Street conducting crime suppression patrol operations when they noticed Jeralds operating a black motorcycle with no registration. Deputies turned on their emergency lights and pulled Jeralds over. At this time Jeralds looked over his shoulder at the patrol vehicle and took off going west at 70 mph on Oak Street.
As Jeralds approached 27th Street, he began braking and turned right to go north onto 27th Street. While making the right-hand turn, he failed to use a turn signal, drove in the opposite lane of traffic to make a wide turn, and failed to stop at the stop sign. He again accelerated at a high rate of speed and continued north on 27th Street. When he got to the railroad tracks near the intersection of 27th Street and Walnut, he left the roadway to the west and drove over the railroad tracks, crossed Walnut Street, and got stuck in a yard. A deputy got out of his patrol vehicle and wasn’t able to grab Jeralds.
Jeralds continued to recklessly flee throughout multiple blocks, riding through residential lawns, traveling in opposite lanes, and violating numerous traffic laws. He crossed West Tyler Street and entered a field near 501 North 33rd Street at which time his motorcycle became stuck in the field, and he began running northwest on foot. Jeralds was pursued by the patrol vehicle across the field for 20 yards before catching up to him in a backyard in the 500 block of North 35th Street.
Sheriff Jeff Diederich got out of the patrol vehicle and pursued Jeralds on foot as he continued to run telling him several times to stop. As Jeralds fled through the residential area, the sheriff and a deputy arriving on the opposite side of a building were able to corner him. Jeralds resisted efforts to take him into custody and a taser was deployed. Jeralds was taken into custody without further incident.
After being read his Miranda rights Jeralds was asked why he was running. Jeralds stated, “because I have a warrant.” Sheriff Diederich advised Jeralds that he did not have an active warrant for his arrest. Jeralds was discovered to be out of compliance with the requirements to register as a sex offender.
Jeralds was arrested and then cited for the following offenses: Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, Resisting Arrest, Violation of Sex Offender Registry – Duty to Register, Driving While License Suspended, No Valid Driver’s License, Reckless Driving, Speeding, No Valid Registration, Failure to Signal when Required, Disobey Stop Sign, Operating Uninsured Vehicle, and Improper Lane Usage.
Jeralds was transported to and remanded into the custody of the Williamson County Jail.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Herrin Police Department for their assistance.
