Hamilton County Sheriff’s authorities were led on a quarter mile chase before they were able to arrest 37 year old Eric L. Hall of Carmi. Deputies say they were forced to tase Hall in order to taken him into custody after he allegedly refused to exit the vehicle they say he stole.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s report says a call came in around 10:30 Thursday evening stating that a vehicle had been taken from Rube’s Liquor Locker, north of McLeansboro and was last seen on Belle Prairie Road. Shortly after, a call came in reporting a vehicle on fire at the intersection. Immediately after that call, State Police were notified by an area resident that an unknown individual was attempting to gain entry to her home.
By the time, deputies arrived, they found a white Ford SUV in the driveway which sped away on a trail into nearby woods. Deputies pursued until the vehicle crashed into some trees.
The investigation worked on by Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputies, the McLeansboro PD and the State Police alleges 37 year old Eric Hall had stolen the initial vehicle from the Hamilton County Housing Authority in McLeansboro and then allegedly drove to Rube’s Liquor Locker. He then stole a second vehicle there and reportedly crashed it before going to the residence of Sue Johnson of Belle Prairie. It was there the report alleges he broke several windows to gain access to the garage. Inside, they say Hall plundered through a pick up and refrigerator before he gained entry to Johnson’s Ford Explorer which he subsequently drove through the closed garage door and into the driveway where deputies first were able to observe Hall prior to the chase leading to his arrest.
Hall is behind bars in the White County Jail and being held on $150,000 bond. He’s charged with a litany of charges including fleeing a peace officer, motor vehicle theft, home invasion, and criminal damage to property. In addition, he faces charges of criminal trespassing.
