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Illinois police looking for suspect who led officer on chase that ended in fatal crash

Officer Brockmeyer was a 10-month veteran of the Chester Police Department.

Chester, IL (KMOV) — The search is on for a suspect involved in a police pursuit that led to the fatal accident of a Illinois police officer.

Chester Police Officer James Brockmeyer died in a vehicle accident while pursuing a suspect Friday night.

The Chester Police Department made the announcement on their Facebook page. The department said Brockmeyer, 22, attempted to make a traffic stop around 10:00 p.m.

The suspect that Brockmeyer attempted to pull over has since been identified as Jason Michael Stoker.

Police said Stoker, 34, failed to pull over and led police on a chase.

During the chase, Chester Police said Brockmeyer’s patrol vehicle left the roadway and overturned, trapping him. The crash occurred on Palestine Road in Randolph County, which is more than an hour southeast of St. Louis.

Officer Brockmeyer was a 10-month veteran of the Chester Police Department.

Residents of Chester, Illinois said it’s been very hard to deal with since the accident.

“I’ve known him since he was a little kid – about ten years old. He was a great kid,” Brad Coleman said.

“It’s just hard in town. Everybody knows him. It’s a small town and everybody knows everybody. When something like that happens it affects not only the family but everyone from the family on.

“It’s tragic,” Coleman said.

An arrested warrant was issued for Stoker, and he has been charged with Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding. The Randolph County State’s Attorney’s Office said additional charges are likely for Stoker.

Stoker is still at-large, but his 2006 red Pontiac G-6 was found in Evansville, about 20 miles north of where the police chase took place.

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