Fugitive Arrested After Pursuit in Two States

A man wanted on rape and sodomy charges was arrested Tuesday after a vehicle pursuit from Paducah into southern Illinois.

The McCracken County Sheriff's Department says they learned that 29-year-old Marcellus Phagan might be staying at a hotel on Cairo Road near I-24, so they performed surveillance, and spotted him about 11:15 am. After Phagan and two others got into a Jeep, detectives tried to block the vehicle, but Phagan drove over the curb onto Cairo Road and took I-24 west toward Illinois.

Detectives pursued the vehicle and were joined by Massac and Johnson County Sheriff's Deputies and Illinois State Police. They say a handgun was thrown from the vehicle on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River Bridge, and it struck another vehicle on the highway. Additional contraband was also reportedly tossed from the Jeep. 

The chase ended when the vehicle ran out of gas after taking exit 14 onto US Highway 45 near Vienna. Phagan was arrested on the outstanding warrant and the other two people were detained. A woman in the vehicle was released without being charged, but 26-year-old Desmond Hale of Paducah was arrested on a warrant for a probation violation.

Additional warrants were obtained for Phagan on charges of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence and fleeing or evading police. Warrants were also obtained for Hale on charges of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and tampering with evidence.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Department is also likely to file charges against the men.