Charges filed against man who led police on high-speed chase, escaped from hospital

Charges were filed Tuesday against the man who was arrested after a car chase Friday and later escaped authorities while under care at Saint Francis Medical Center.

Jeramie Oakley, 29 of West Frankfort, Ill., was charged with burglary, three counts of assault, armed criminal action, two counts of resisting arrest and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.

He was arrested by the Illinois State Police at about 12:30 p.m. Friday. While he was being processed at the Tri-County Detention Center in Ullin, Ill., authorities determined he needed medical care, said Sgt. Scott Eakers of the Jackson Police Department.

Oakley was transported to Union County Hospital in Anna, Ill. After doctors determined he needed further treatment, authorities brought Oakley to Saint Francis Medical Center at about 5:30 p.m., said Lt. Steve Shields of the Illinois State Police.

Shields said the Illinois State Police transferred custody to the Missouri State Highway Patrol at the hospital. He would not say the nature of Oakley's injuries.

Eakers said Oakley was never in the custody of the Jackson Police Department. He said he did not know Oakley had been transferred to the Missouri hospital until after he learned of the escape. Authorities are trying to sort out what happened when Oakley was transferred from the Illinois State Police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

"We do not know the circumstances surrounding that discussion," he said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol deferred comments to the Jackson Police Department.

Eakers said Oakley left the hospital Sunday between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.

"No one was watching him at the hospital and he walked out," he said.

Law enforcement agencies have been looking for him in Southern Illinois.

Oakley led authorities on a high-speed chase Friday when the Jackson Police Department attempted to stop him. He got on Interstate 55 at Center Junction and exited at Highway 74. Oakley was eventually arrested on Highway 3 in Illinois.

According to the probable-cause statement, authorities started searching for Oakley after he allegedly broke into an apartment and threatened Ricki Holifield and Rebecca Holt with a screwdriver. In August, Holt received a protection order against Oakley, the statement said.

Eakers said Holt was visiting Oakley at the hospital when he escaped.

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Pertinent address:

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