CAMBRIA – A Jackson County man was taken into custody after fleeing from Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies in a stolen vehicle and crashing it in a field Saturday.
According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the 1300 block of North Maple Street in Cambria around 8:50 a.m.
Deputies confirmed the vehicle was stolen and efforts began to find it. It was found around 9:40 a.m. in the area of Spillway Road and Peach Lane using its onboard GPS. Deputies saw it going north on Illinois 148 approaching Crab Orchard Lake and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled east on McCree Road, left the roadway, and traveled north across a vast distance of snow-covered fields and a wooded area adjacent to the airport.
Deputies, along with two members of its ATV patrol unit, were assisted by the Crainville, Carterville, Energy, Herrin, and Marion police departments in establishing a perimeter to try to find the fleeing suspect.
As a result of these efforts, Wesley New, of DeSoto, was caught trying to flee the scene on foot. New admitted to stealing the truck and fleeing from law enforcement.
Deputies were able to help the victim recover the vehicle more than a half mile from the roadway. It suffered minor damage including a shattered windshield and a broken passenger side window when New crashed.
New was cited for multiple offenses including Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Theft, Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, Criminal Damage to Property, Criminal Trespass to Property, Driving While License Suspended, Reckless Driving, Speeding and Disobeying a Stop Sign twice. He was lodged in the Williamson County Jail.
