Grand jury indicts suspect in high-speed chase

A Machesney Park man was indicted Tuesday for a high-speed chase and faces additional charges for allegedly wielding a shank inside La Salle County Jail, injuring two corrections officers

Brad M. Johnson, 39, already was facing time for an April 9 high-speed chase resulting in three felony charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding and driving while revoked, all Class 4 felonies carrying 1-3 years. Tuesday, a grand jury handed down indictments on those counts.

Next: The grand jury will weigh four new counts alleging he fashioned a makeshift weapon while in custody. The grand jury will next convene May 4.

According to police reports, Johnson was held less than a week when he allegedly attacked an attending nurse April 15 with a metal shank made from a piece of leg brace stabilizer bar. He pushed the nurse against the wall and threatened her with the sharpened shank, deputies said. The nurse was uninjured.

Correctional deputies were able to gain control of Johnson, but in the process, two officers received neck injuries from the shank, according to the sheriff’s office. He is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon in a penal institution, a Class 1 felony carry 4-15 years, plus three counts of aggravated battery.

Johnson’s bond was increased to $500,000.

Also indicted Tuesday were: Timothy Ryan, 33, of Sandwich (unlawful use of a credit card); Jody Follis, 62, of Marseilles (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Tracy Cockream, 42, of Streator (criminal damage to property); Philip Gross, 46, of Goshen, Ind. (methamphetamine trafficking); Katie Carretto, 33, ofOttawa (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Aaron Larson, 24, of Ottawa (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Shalayna Worley, 30, of La Salle (two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance; unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution); Brittany Tidaback, 29, of Spring Valley (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Nina Leato, 31, of Peru (unlawful possession of a controlled substance; retail theft); Jeremy Hiltabrand, 36, of Peru (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Loretta Libby, 34, ofLa Salle (two counts of driving while revoked); Barbara King, 43, of 1514 Zinc St., La Salle (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Jazmin Casey-Wiggins, 24, of 1516 Pulaski St., Peru (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Amber Norman, 36, of Streator (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Monica Grant, 55, of Wilmington (three counts of aggravated DUI; unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Holden Taylor, 23, of Sheridan (unlawful possession of a controlled substance); Jasmine Chandler, 22, of Wenona (unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver); Allison Jasper, 44, of Peru (aggravated unlawful use of a weapon); Jordan Marshall, 22, of Dana (residential burglary); David Pierce, 57, of Ottawa (aggravated DUI); Adam Fleming, 33, of Streator (unlawful delivery of methamphetamine); Krystal Nelson, 32, of Streator (unlawful delivery of methamphetamine); Joshua Bostick, 27, of La Salle (unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Jeremy Lannen, 27, of Oglesby (unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Ryan Newell, 41, of Ottawa (two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Carl Winchester, 56, of Ottawa (unlawful delivery of a controlled substance); Dustin Smith, 29, of Ottawa (two counts of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine).