Salem man leads officers in chase Saturday

A Salem man was charged with eluding or attempting to elude pursuing law enforcement vehicles after he failed to stop at a stop sign, which lead to a pursuit through Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, Dec. 15.

Jeff Chance, of Salem, was pursued by police vehicles after failing to stop at a stop sign in the 2200 grid of Franklin Avenue in Mt. Pleasant while driving a gold Plymouth Grand Voyager van Saturday. Chance ignored the Henry County Sheriff's Office emergency lights and sirens and continued driving east onto Highway 34.

Other Henry County Sheriff's deputies, the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, and the New London Police Department joined in the pursuit of the offending vehicle.

The vehicle lead law enforcement officers in a pursuit through Mt. Pleasant and north onto Highway 218. Stop sticks were deployed successfully against the vehicle, but the driver continued until law enforcement officers were able to force the vehicle to a stop in the 1900 grid of 200th Street in Mt. Pleasant.

Law enforcement officers were able to apprehend Jeff Chance with little trouble. He was charged with Eluding or Attempting to Elude Pursuing Law Enforcement vehicles, Driving While Barred, and numerous other traffic violations.

Becky Chance was in the passenger seat. She was not charged by the Henry County Sheriff's Office but was taken into custody on other outstanding warrants.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.