One man was arrested following a chase with Galesburg police after officers came upon him damaging a city vehicle.
At just before 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, officers on patrol noticed a man underneath a vehicle in the city employee parking lot on Simmons Street.
The man – later identified as 42-year-old Jeremy D. Hale – allegedly saw the patrol vehicle and took off running. Officers called for assistance, and backup arrived to try and cut Hale off.
Officers identified a blue Ford sedan, baring City of Galesburg decals on it, where it appeared that Hale allegedly was trying to remove the licence plate from.
In addition a second vehicle – a grey Chevrolet truck – had similar damage as well. That vehicle was not city property.
He was eventually apprehended on South West Street, where he told officers he had been drinking – but when given a breath test at the jail, the results came back with a BRAC of .000.
Hale made a video appearance in Knox County Circuit Court for his detention hearing on Tuesday. Judge James Standard set bond at $3,000 and appointed a public defender.
He will be back in court for a first appearance on the 19th, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 30th.
Court records indicate he is being charged with a Class 4 Felony of Criminal Damage to Government Property under $500, and a Class A Misdemeanor charge of Resisting a Peace Officer.
