Published: May 22, 2009 07:20 pm      

Chicago man on the loose after crashing car while fleeing from police

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

DIX — A Chicago man is on the run after crashing a car on Old Centralia Road while attempting to flee from police Friday morning.

The Mt. Vernon Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office were conducting join safety patrols when they tried to pull over a car for a traffic violation, and the driver refused to stop. The driver took off at a high rate of speed westbound on the Dix-Irvington Road in a reckless manner, police said. Moments later, officers found the car crashed into a power pole only a few feet from a gas main.

Police believe the driver left the roadway when attempting to turn onto Old Centralia Road.

Both airbags imploded in the car during the crash, and officers saw a black man wearing a white T-shirt running away from the scene. Officials said at least eight officers from the MVPD, JCSO and Illinois State Police including K-9 units were called to locate the suspect.

While searching, police identified the driver as Romaine Heath, also known as “Q,” 28. Heath is wanted on several outstanding warrants from this area including drug-related warrants and parole violation warrants from the Illinois Department of Corrections.

According to Jefferson County Court records, Heath was sentenced to three years in prison for vehicle theft in 2005, relating to an incident that happened in 2002. He has had numerous traffic violations filed in Jefferson County from 2002 to present.

IDOC records indicate Heath is still on parole for vehicle theft, as well as two Cook County crimes of bringing or possessing contraband in a penal institution and possession or use of a firearm by a felon. Heath was sentenced to six years in prison on the contraband charge and two years on the possession of a firearm charge.

Heath is described as a black male, with hair in dreadlocks and last seen wearing a white T-shirt. Heath weighs approximately 163 pounds and is 5 feet, 6 inches tall.

Anyone with information on Heath’s location is asked to call the MVPD at 242-2727 or the JCSO at 244-8004.