Ashland man arrested following police chase

(WAND) - An Ashland man was arrested after leading deputies and troopers on a police chase early Thanksgiving morning.

At 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Menard County Sheriff's deputies learned of a possible burglary suspect in the Athens area. Deputies were told by other law enforcement agencies that someone driving a Chevrolet Malibu registered out of Ashland had stolen a vehicle and guns in Christian County.

The Christian County Sheriff’s Office had previously chased the suspect's vehicle but had lost sight of it.

The vehicle was seen traveling northbound on I-55. Springfield police officers had also tried to conduct a traffic stop.

Deputies learned an Illinois State Police Trooper last saw the vehicle going south through Athens.

Deputies, along with the Sheriff, started searching for the vehicle. Using an LPR camera, the vehicle was found going westbound on Athens Blacktop Road near Tice.

It was eventually spotted by an ISP Trooper in Tallula. Deputies then found the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle stopped near the intersection of IL-123 and Kirby Road. When deputies tried to make contact with the driver, the driver fled the stop, and deputies, along with the Sheriff, again started to chase the vehicle.

The chase continued south on IL-97, where multiple attempts to box in the vehicle were unsuccessful due to the suspect’s erratic driving.

The vehicle continued south to Knoles Road, then north to Boy Scout Trail. It then went northbound on Boy Scout Trail to Big Dog Ave., where the driver left the road and started driving through a farm field.

Deputies chased the suspect through the field and used contact intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop.

The driver was then arrested and identified as Marcus R. Ivy, 23, of Ashland.

Guns were found in the vehicle. Firearms were recovered from the vehicle.

Ivy was taken to the Menard County Jail.

He is charged with:

• Aggravated Fleeing/Attempting to Elude a Police Officer

• Possession of Stolen Firearms

• Unlawful Possession of Firearms/Firearm Ammunition

• Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon

• Obstructing Justice

• Driving While License Suspended

This is an active and ongoing investigation in cooperation with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.