Two individuals were taken into custody following an overnight vehicle pursuit and search involving multiple law enforcement agencies early Tuesday morning, according to the Menard County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 12:03 a.m. on Jan. 13, a Menard County Sheriff’s deputy observed a vehicle traveling on Illinois Route 123 near Tice Road, east of Petersburg, with a revoked registration. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused to stop and fled.
The vehicle led deputies on a pursuit through several county roadways and multiple farm fields. The pursuit ended in the 20000 block of Jellystone Avenue, several miles northeast of Petersburg, where the vehicle left the roadway, entered a private drive, crossed a grassy field, and crashed into a wooded area, becoming immobile.
Deputies approaching the vehicle discovered both occupants had fled into a nearby wooded area. A thermal imaging drone and a K-9 unit were requested to assist in the search.
A female suspect was located shortly thereafter and taken into custody without incident. She was identified as Annyssa R. Myers, 36, of Virden.
The search for the male suspect continued for nearly two hours. At approximately 2:08 a.m., deputies observed what appeared to be a person in a nearby pond. Deputies entered the water and pulled the male subject to shore, where life-saving measures were immediately initiated. Care was transferred to Menard County EMS paramedics, and the individual was transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Following a lengthy investigation, the male was identified as Caleb J. Prose, 47, of Girard.
According to the sheriff’s office, Prose was listed as armed and dangerous and had multiple active warrants, including an Illinois Department of Corrections parole violation, failure to appear warrants for burglary charges in Putnam and Montgomery counties, and a criminal damage warrant out of Calhoun County, Georgia. Prose remains in custody pending transfer on those warrants.
Authorities said additional charges related to the incident in Menard County are forthcoming and will be reviewed by the Menard County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Prose has an extensive criminal history, including prior burglary convictions and other felony offenses documented in multiple court proceedings and previous arrests across central and northern Illinois.
The Menard County Sheriff’s Office credited numerous agencies for assisting in the pursuit, search, and investigation, including the Petersburg Police Department, Athens Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police Troop 6 and Crime Scene Services, Menard County EMS, Petersburg Rural Fire and City Fire, Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office, Carlinville Police Department, Virden Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service for the Central District of Illinois.
The investigation remains ongoing.