Man arrested twice in one week for vehicle theft

According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office on December 3, 2024, at 12:09 pm, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Deputies located a stolen vehicle at the intersection of Skyline Drive and West Main Street.

Undercover units conducted surveillance, and a felony traffic stop of the vehicle was conducted at the intersection of Third and Main Streets in Marion.

The white 2010 Buick Enclave was recovered and the driver, Anthony C. Thompson, was taken into custody.

A search of the vehicle was conducted which located a plastic bag containing a crystalline substance that later field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Thompson was cited for the following:

Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle

<Class 2 Felony>

Possession of Methamphetamine

<Class 3 Felony>

Driving While License Suspended

<Class A Misdemeanor>

Thompson was arrested and taken into the custody of the Williamson County Jail.

On December 4, 2024, Thompson was released from the Williamson County Jail with pretrial conditions because the offense is not detainable under the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, commonly known as the SAFE-T Act.

On December 8, 2024, at 1114 hours, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, searching for a stolen vehicle believed to be in the area, located the vehicle in the parking lot of Comfort Inn Hotel, 2403 Black Diamond Drive, Marion.

Deputies approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Anthony C. Thompson.

Thompson was discovered to have a recently issued outstanding Illinois Department of Corrections arrest warrant.

Thompson was taken into custody and cited for the following:

Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle

<Class 2 Felony>

Violation of Conditions of Pretrial Release

<Class A Misdemeanor>

Driving While License Suspended

<Class A Misdemeanor>

Improper Use Of Evidence Of Registration

<Class C Misdemeanor>

Thompson was taken to the Williamson County Jail for the second time in a week.

Sheriff Jeff Diederich stated, “The catch and release complexities of the SAFE-T Act continue to impede our ability to protect the community. This stands in contrast to the efforts of law enforcement and the State’s Attorney who are committed to holding those who commit criminal activity accountable.”