WHITE CO., Ill. - A 20-year-old guy from McLeansboro was locked up for a short while over the weekend after playing "car tag" with another vehicle in Crossville...and driving on a suspended license.
And with pot in his truck, as well. At least, according to authorities.
The whole thing went down in the very early morning hours of Saturday, February 17, when at 1:38 a.m., Deputy George Spencer, on patrol in Crossville, was traveling north on Illinois Highway 1 approaching the intersection with Main Street, when he observed two vehicles traveling south on 1 towards the intersection. He observed the rear vehicle, a black 2016 Dodge Ram pickup, pass the lead vehicle and continue into the intersection, then rapidly apply his breaks causing the tires on the vehicle to squeal. The Dodge did not make a complete stop before turning right onto West Main Street. It was then Spencer activated his patrol vehicle's emergency lighting system and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 100 block of West Main Street.
Spencer identified the driver as Chance M. Grein, 20, and asked him for his license and proof of insurance. He offered up the license but was unable to locate proof of insurance, explaining that the truck was owned by his grandfather. He stated that he'd been playing "car tag" with a friend, and that this friend had been driving the car that Grein had passed as he approached the intersection.
Dispatch advised that the license was suspended, so Spencer told him about that, and Grein said that he knew his license was going to be suspended, but thought it hadn't gone into effect yet. When Spencer asked Grein to step from the vehicle, Spencer detected an odor of what he believed to be burnt marijuana coming from the inside of the vehicle. Spencer advised Grein of this, but Grein said he didn't believe there was any pot in the truck.
Spencer spoke with the three other occupants of the vehicle, advising them he could smell the marijuana, and at first they said they had no knowledge of any in the truck, but ultimately they said that Grein had stated he had marijuana in his possession prior to his being with them...and that it was possible the odor was coming from Grein himself.
A search of the immediate area around the driver's seat turned up and open 12-ounce can of Busch Light beer under the seat, with the can being nearly full and still cold.
So Spencer had everyone exit the vehicle, with all three of them stating they had no knowledge of any alcohol inside the vehicle.
Despite that, a search of the interior turned up an open 375 ml bottle of Jim Beam Honey Bourbon whiskey in a compartment located under the center console of the vehicle. He also located a brown cigar wrapper with a green leafy substance which he believed to be marijuana in a pullout drawer under the vehicle's radio and environmental controls...with all three subjects still stating they had no knowledge of either item.
The subjects were identified as a juvenile, then Sean RM Flanagan, 18, and Zane M. Clagg, 18. The juvenile was in the front passenger seat, Flanagan was seated in the rear driver's side seat, and Clagg was seated in the rear passenger side seat.
Spencer spoke with Grein about the items located inside the vehicle, and Grein stated all the items were his, and noted that the other subjects had no knowledge of any of the items being inside the vehicle.
The vehicle was released to Flanagan, who possessed a valid Illinois Driver's License, and Grein was transported to the White County Jail. At the jail, Grein attempted six times to provide a breath alcohol analysis sample, but he was unable to provide a sufficient breath sample. So he was issued citations for Disobeying a Traffic Control Device, Driving While License Suspended, Operating Uninsured, Illegal Transportation of Alcohol by a Driver, and Possession of Cannabis not more than 10 grams. He was held pending posting of cash bond.