Man faces multiple charges related to crash that injured Fairview Heights police officer
A St. Louis man has been charged in connection with the incident Thursday that left a stolen car pinned against a brick wall outside a department store at St. Clair Square and a Fairview Heights police officer in the hospital.
Jermaine Piggee, 20, of St. Louis faces multiple charges that include: armed violence, aggravated battery of a peace officer, drug trafficking, unlawful possession with intent to deliver, aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and aggravated use of a weapon.
The complaint against Piggee, filed by St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric, alleges that Piggee was armed with a handgun and in possession of more than a gram of the synthetic opioid fentanyl when he arrived at St. Clair Square in a stolen Chevy Monte Carlo. The state’s attorney says Piggee brought the fentanyl from Missouri with intent to make a delivery.
The delivery, however, was foiled by a 30-year-old Fairview Heights police officer, police department Public Information Officer Tim Mueller said from the scene Thursday morning.
The officer, a four-year veteran of the Fairview Heights police, saw the Monte Carlo parked on the sidewalk outside Dillard’s department store with its flashers on. A check of its license plates showed that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Genevieve County, Missouri, police said.
Piggee saw the officer approaching the stolen car, then ran to it in an attempt to get into the driver’s seat, a release from Fairview Heights Police stated. The officer ordered him to stop, but Piggee continued to get into the car and tried to speed off while dragging the officer, who was partially inside the car, police said.
The Monte Carlo crashed into the side of JC Penney, injuring the officer, who was taken to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries, police said. His condition was not known as of early Friday evening. A bystander who was struck by the stolen car during the incident received minor injuries that didn’t require medical treatment.
Piggee ran back into the mall, where he was taken into custody by police. Law enforcement in St. Louis County already had a warrant out on Piggee for auto theft, police said.
He is being held at the St. Clair County Jail on $750,000 bond. If convicted, Piggee faces up to 30 years in a state prison if he is convicted, according to Gomric’s office.
“Every single day police officers place their lives in jeopardy to protect and serve us as citizens, and my office takes very seriously our obligation to assist and protect them in that endeavor,” Gomric said in a statement. “I want to thank the Fairview Heights Police Department for their work in the investigation and I want to applaud the officer involved for his efforts and service, and to wish him a speedy recovery.”
Police said during a search of the car the handgun was discovered. Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation.
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 6:11 PM.
