Caseyville teen faces five felonies following police pursuit

A Caseyville teenager is facing a number of charges after he crashed while allegedly fleeing from an officer who tried to pull him over for a traffic stop.

Samuel A. Mitchell, 18, of the 400 block of Bethel Meadows Road, was charged Tuesday with two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated driving under the influence and three Class 4 felony counts of aggravated attempting to flee and elude a police officer.

According to police reports, at just before 4 a.m. Saturday an officer tried to stop a Pontiac G8 being driven by Mitchell. Police said the driver was speeding at the time he was spotted. When an officer turned on his lights and sirens, Mitchell allegedly fled.

“A vehicle pursuit was initiated,” according to Caseyville Police Department spokesman Gerald Spratt. “The suspect vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a railroad crossing signal in the 600 block of East O’Fallon Drive, causing extensive damage to both the railroad crossing and the suspect vehicle.”

Two passengers in the car suffered nonlife threatening injuries and were taken to area hospitals for treatment, Spratt said. Mitchell allegedly tried to flee the scene on foot but was captured after a short chase.

Mitchell was taken to the St. Clair County Jail where he was held on $40,000 bail.

News-Democrat

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Caseyville teen faces five felonies following police pursuit."