What started as a late‑night liquor grab at a Winfield gas station turned into a nearly 30‑mile high‑speed chase that tore through St. Charles County before ending in St. Peters early Thursday, authorities say.
According to investigators, two men drove from the Peoria area to Winfield, where an employee at the Casey’s store reported a liquor theft around 3 a.m. Deputies later spotted the suspects’ car at a nearby Fast Lane station, but when a deputy tried to stop them, the occupants jumped back into the vehicle and took off, as reported by KMOV.
The pursuit headed south on Highway 79 into St. Charles County and, authorities say, turned dangerously chaotic. Officers report the stolen vehicle at times swerved into oncoming lanes, hit speeds close to 100 mph, and ultimately had to be stopped with spike strips. A passenger is said to have leaned a cellphone out the window and recorded portions of the chase.
High‑Speed Pursuit, Spike Strips And A Rolling Video
Lincoln County Sheriff Rick Harrell said deputies stayed on the suspects as the chase escalated and that at one point the fleeing vehicle forced another driver off the road. Harrell did not mince words about the decision to run.
"They weren't smart enough to find some place else to be," he said.
Harrell identified the suspects as 18‑year‑old Connor Maquet and 20‑year‑old Corrail Jackson. Both were booked on tampering and aggravated fleeing charges. Harrell added that potential charges related to alleged contact with underage girls have not yet been filed, according to KMOV.
Peoria Records Show Prior Arrest For One Suspect
Media outlets in Peoria reported that Maquet had a recent run‑in with the law there. In December, he was arrested after a downtown crash where officers said they recovered discarded handguns and drugs. That earlier case, which included weapons and drug charges, was detailed by WMBD.
Investigation Ongoing
Sheriff Harrell said the investigation is still active and that his office will seek additional charges if the evidence supports them. Authorities also noted that a mastiff belonging to one of the juvenile girls was inside the car during the chase; the dog was not hurt and has since been returned to its owner.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
