Okawville Man Arrested After High Speed Pursuit
By Leah Williams
An Okawville man has been arrested more than two weeks after allegedly leading authorities in a high-speed pursuit with a stolen motorcycle and stealing fuel from a local business.
Brandon Therion, 25, appeared in Washington County Court via Zoom on Thursday, pleading not guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated fleeing from police, a Class 4 felony.
Nashville Police said on June 9, officers were advised of a theft of fuel from a private business in rural Okawville. When an Okawville officer arrived on the scene, the suspect, who was described as a male wearing a green backpack and a black helmet with an orange visor, had already departed the area.
The NPD later said that an officer observed a motorcycle and suspect matching the description, which was traveling south on State Route 127 just south of Nashville. Authorities tried to initiate a traffic stop but the motorcycle fled from police, reaching speeds in excess of more than 100 miles per hour. The NPD then asked for the public’s help on Facebook in locating the suspect.
Police would continue to stop and obtain registration information but were “unable to do so,” police say. The officers lost sight of the suspect in the area of Black Diamond Road, north of Locust Creek Road, in rural Nashville.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a report locating the motorcycle involved in the chase. The motorcycle was received in a field off of Black Diamond Road. A NPD officer reportedly was able to find that the license plate on the motorcycle was fictitious with a sticker that also did not match. Authorities stated that the bike “appeared to be stolen.”
Therion was taken into custody in Clinton County on Wednesday on other charges as well as the warrant from Washington County.
Bond was set at $50,000. A hearing is set for Tuesday, June 28, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 12.
The investigation is ongoing. Police also say that Therion is being investigated by agencies in Washington, Clinton and St. Clair counties for other “related offenses stemming from NPD’s investigation of this incident.”
