2 arrested after high speed police chase in Williamson County

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – A high speed chase in a stolen vehicle led to the arrest of two people in Williamson County on November 21.

Michael T. Wadley faces charges of possession of stolen vehicle (Class X felony), aggravated fleeing and eluding (Class 4 felony), aggravated reckless driving (Class 4 felony), reckless conduct (Class 4 felony), possession of methamphetamine (Class 3 felony), criminal damage to state supported property greater than $10,000 (Class 2 felony), theft $500 less than $10,000 (Class 3 felony), driving while license suspended (Class A misdemeanor), aggravated speeding (Class A misdemeanor), possession of adult use cannabis in a motor vehicle (Class A misdemeanor), possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor), speeding- school zone (70 mph in a 20mph speed zone – Class A misdemeanor), no valid driver’s license (Class A misdemeanor), eight counts of disobeying stop sign and improper lane usage.

Hailey J. Poppen faces charges of possession of methamphetamine (Class 3 felony) and possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor).

Williamson County Sheriff’s Office deputies saw a stolen vehicle commit multiple traffic violations on Illinois Route 13 east of Marion around 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21.

The vehicle was known to deputies to be the same vehicle that was driven away from law enforcement a week earlier.

Deputies tried to stop the vehicle and the driver continued driving, committing dozens of traffic violations, ignoring traffic control devices, and operating the vehicle in a reckless and wonton manner, according to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

Multiple law enforcement agencies went to assist the deputies. However, the suspect vehicle drove through Marion and continued south on Market Street toward Lake of Egypt at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, according to the sheriff’s office.

While traveling southbound near Ollis Road deputies saw the driver discard multiple items, believed to be contraband, out of the driver’s side window.

When the vehicle reached Lake of Egypt Road,, the driver turned westbound. While crossing the spillway the people in the vehicle again began discarding suspected contraband from the driver’s side window, according to the sheriff’s office.

Several of these items were later recovered and discovered to be digital scales commonly used in the manufacturing and distribution of illegal narcotics.

The vehicle was seen making multiple traffic violations and weaving in and out of the oncoming lane. Multiple vehicles had to take evasive action to avoid a crash.

Deputies deployed stop sticks across the road as the suspect vehicle arrived at the intersection of State Route 37 and Illinois Route 148.

The driver of the suspect vehicle took evasive action and avoided the spike strips.

The vehicle turned northbound on Illinois Route 148 and continued at a high rate of speed, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies say the driver then made an unexpected turn and entered the southbound Interstate 57 exit ramp traveling head on into oncoming traffic.

As the vehicle traveled around the curve of the off ramp it swerved right to avoid an oncoming vehicle. The oncoming passenger car responded by swerving to avoid a crash, departed the road, and struck a patrol vehicle.

The suspect vehicle continued down the exit ramp trying to gain entry head on into heavy oncoming interstate traffic. Thanksgiving holiday and 5 p.m. traffic flows.

A second deputy responded by performing a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver causing the suspect vehicle to spin around and roll over crash coming to rest on the shoulder of the road. This action averted the suspect vehicle from entering the interstate “head on” into dense bumper to bumper traffic, according to the sheriff’s office.

Michael T. Wadley, the driver, was removed from the vehicle, handcuffed and placed in the rear of a patrol car.

The passenger, identified as Hailey J. Poppen, was also removed from the vehicle, handcuffed, and placed in the rear of a patrol car.

EMS was summoned to the scene as deputies worked to stabilize injuries sustained by victims.

Multiple victims along with two deputies were taken to area hospitals.

Wadley was discovered to have a suspended drivers license and outstanding arrest warrants for burglary and possession of methamphetamine.

Deputies recovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and the stock of a shotgun from the suspect vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.

Wadley has an extensive criminal history and multiple pending felony cases in Williamson County. As a result of prior convictions, some of these offenses are now eligible for enhanced sentencing.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the criminal investigation, but requested the assistance of the Illinois State Police in handling the traffic crash.

Wadley and Poppen were taken to the Williamson County Jail.