Robbery, bomb threat, and pursuit ends in Metropolis man's arrest

A Metropolis man was arrested Sunday, following a robbery, a bomb threat, and then a pursuit.

Metropolis Police were called just before 3am Sunday about an alarm at the Dollar General on 10th Street. Officers discovered the front door glass had been kicked in. Allegedly, cell phones were among the items that were stolen.

Later Sunday morning, around 5:15am, a bomb threat to the U.S. Post Office was called in to Metropolis 911. The caller was reportedly making threats against other agencies, as well. During a subsequent call, the caller allegedly admitted to the Dollar General robbery.

Police traced the phone, and with the help of a Massac County Sheriff's deputy, located the caller in a truck at 2nd and Yasoda Streets. The deputy tried to stop the truck, but suspect fled, leading officers on a 15 minute chase through Metropolis. 

Police used spike strips to slow the vehicle, before it finally left the roadway and struck a pole.

The suspect, 34-year-old Justin R. Lewis of Metropolis, was treated for injuries from the crash at Massac Memorial Hospital, before being taken to the Massac County Detention Center.

Lewis was charged with theft, burglary, criminal damage to property, making a bomb threat, aggravated fleeing/evading police, aggravated assault, speeding over 35mph above the limit, and reckless driving.