Suspect sought after CPD officer fatally injured
<p dir="ltr">UPDATE AT 7:36 P.M.
<p dir="ltr"><span>Randolph County Sheriff Shannon Wolff has confirmed to the Herald Tribune that the vehicle - a 2006 Pontiac G6 - used by 34-year-old Jason Michael Stoker in Friday night's incident that resulted in fatal injuries to Chester Police Officer James Brockmeyer was found earlier today.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Wolff declined to state where the vehicle was located. As for Stoker himself, he remains at large.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"We are still very much looking for him," Wolff said.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Stoker is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency, the Randolph County Sheriff's Office at 618-826-5484 or the Illinois State Police at 618-542-2171.</span>
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<span>ORIGINAL STORY:</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>A city is in mourning as a Chester Police officer, volunteer firefighter and former city employee was fatally injured in the line of duty on Friday night.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Around 10 p.m., 22-year-old CPD Officer James Brockmeyer, of Chester, was in pursuit of a red 2006 Pontiac G6 - driven by 34-year-old Jason Michael Stoker - on Palestine Road near Gravel Creek 2 miles north of Chester when his squad car apparently left the roadway and overturned, coming to rest on its top.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Brockmeyer was pinned underneath the vehicle and Chester firefighters were paged out at 10:11 p.m. for a "heavy rescue" at the scene.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"We take this job and know at any time we would have to get one of our own out," said Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert. "Yesterday was that day and we never look forward to it."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Brockmeyer was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Memorial Hospital of Chester, where he was pronounced dead at 11:20 p.m., according to Randolph County Chief Deputy Coroner Carlos Barbour.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey told the Herald Tribune on Saturday that more information on the accident itself would be released tomorrow morning after an autopsy, also scheduled for tomorrow morning, has been performed.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>As is the case with officer-involved incidents, the Illinois State Police is leading the investigation into the accident.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Officer Brockmeyer was a truly dedicated police officer," Coffey said in an interview with the newspaper. "He was always in good spirits. You could tell that this profession truly did make him happy.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"He was the kind of employee who was here when he didn't have to be here."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Stoker for the offense of aggravated fleeing and eluding a peace officer.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In a Saturday news release, Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker stated that additional charges are likely.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Anyone found to be concealing the whereabouts, or assisting Mr. Stoker in any way (in) evading justice, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Walker said in the release.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>At the time of this report, Stoker remains at large and anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency, the Randolph County Sheriff's Office (618-826-5484) or Illinois State Police (618-542-2171).</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>According to online court records, Stoker has previously been arrested or cited for charges that include battery, domestic battery, obstructing a police officer, unlawful transportation of alcohol and driving on a suspended license.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>He is described as a white male, 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. The Pontiac G6 he was driving has a license plate number of Z121833.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"We're looking for answers like everybody else," Bert said. "We just don't understand."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Brockmeyer graduated from the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy in April. Coffey said Brockmeyer was entered into the CPD's shift schedule this summer after successfully completing the department's field training program.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Brockmeyer was a 2012 graduate of Chester High School and worked as a member of the city's Gas Department from 2013 to January of this year.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The Herald Tribune will continue to have further developments as they become available. Look for more coverage in next week's print edition of the newspaper.</span>