GARDNER, IL — One of Grundy County's judges has ruled that the Illinois SAFE-T-Act will result in the indefinite detention for 19-year-old fugitive Tyler Farmer who authorities say exceeded 100 mph along Interstate 55 while trying to avoid being captured by the pursuing police officers.
According to Tuesday's press release from Grundy County, at approximately 11:25 p.m. last Friday, deputies with the Grundy County Sheriff's Office responded to assist the Illinois State Police with a vehicle wanted in connection with an aggravated fleeing and eluding incident on Interstate 55.
Apparently, an Illinois State Police car had attempted to stop the maroon Dodge Grand Carvan with no registration plates near the 197-mile marker, however, the vehicle fled.
Later, a Grundy County deputy positioned along Interstate 55 saw the suspect vehicle traveling northbound. As deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 mph and continued fleeing, passing multiple vehicles on the right shoulder.
Stop sticks were successfully deployed by assisting deputies near the 223.5-mile marker, disabling the vehicle. Despite suffering multiple tire failures, the driver continued to flee
before deputies conducted a Precision Immobilization Technique, PIT, maneuver. The vehicle entered the ditch on the east side of the interstate near mile marker 226, rolled
onto its side and came to a rest.
According to Grundy County, the sheriff's deputies safely removed all five occupants from the vehicle. Two occupants required assistance getting out of the vehicle. They were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Three additional occupants were also evaluated following the crash.
During the investigation, deputies determined the driver to be Tyler Farmer, 19, of Morton, Illinois.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a loaded Canik 9mm handgun, 54 rounds of ammunition and approximately 251 grams of cannabis from the vehicle, Grundy County proclaimed.
Following medical clearance, Farmer was arrested and transported to the Grundy County Jail where he was held pending a Pre-Trial Release Hearing.
Farmer was charged with:
• Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding
• Six counts of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon
• Obstructing Justice
Obstructing Identification
• Possession of Cannabis
• Possession with Intent to Deliver Cannabis
• Unlawful Possession of Ammunition
• Reckless Driving
• Speeding 35 mph or More Over the Speed Limit
• Improper Lane Usage
• Improper Passing on the Shoulder
• Improper Display of Registration
• Speeding in a Construction Zone
• Failure to Signal When Required
• Driving While License Revoked
Farmer also held active arrest warrants out of Greene County, for domestic battery and two out of Tazewell County for theft and reckless driving. There was no-bond on those warrants.
On Monday, Farmer appeared in front of the Grundy County Judge Dobbs and he was ordered detained in the Grundy County Jail.
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