Blog

MATTOON — A Chicago man has been charged with multiple felonies, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, following a police pursuit Saturday night that ended with a brief standoff on Interstate 57.

The Coles County State’s Attorney’s Office also has filed charges of aggravated fleeing police, possessing a stolen vehicle, and using this vehicle as a weapon against Devonj L. Wilson, 38, following his arrested by the Mattoon Police Department. 

The Mattoon Police Department said in a news release that Wilson was arrested at 8:09 p.m. on I-57 at mile marker 185, north of the U.S. Route 45 exit. The arrest occurred after Mattoon police received information from Charleston Police Department that Wilson committed several criminal offenses in Chicago and might be traveling to Coles County to harm a resident.

Charleston police provided a vehicle description and registration information. They also indicated that Wilson was armed with a firearm and threatened to “get into a shootout with police” if encountered by law enforcement. 

Later, Mattoon police located the vehicle in a parking lot in the 300 block of Broadway Avenue East. Subsequently, the vehicle struck a Mattoon squad car and fled the area.

Mattoon officers pursued the vehicle onto I-57, until it wrecked in the median at mile marker 185. Wilson refused to comply with the officers’ commands to exit the vehicle, police said, and the interstate was blocked to traffic for several minutes until he was taken into custody.

A search of the vehicle, which was identified as being stolen from Chicago, led to the discovery of a loaded handgun and controlled substance, police said. Records indicate Wilson has a previous felony conviction, which prevents him from possessing a firearm, and has a revoked Illinois driver’s license.

Wilson was transported to the Coles County jail, where he awaited a detention hearing Monday. 

Court records indicate that Wilson has several pending criminal cases in Coles County. These charges include unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance, felony driving while license suspended/revoked and resisting a peace officer in one case; aggravated fleeing/eluding a peace officer in another case; and possession of methamphetamine in a third.

Mattoon police were also assisted with this arrest by the Coles County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Land College Police Department, and Eastern Illinois University Police Department.