MARION COUNTY, IL — A 24-year-old Salem man was arrested Sunday afternoon after taking area law enforcement on a pursuit that ended when his vehicle left the road on U.S. Highway 51 south of Centralia.

John E. Phillips was wanted on an Illinois Department of Corrections warrant for an alleged parole violation for a 2018 conviction out of Marion County for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Salem police attempted to make contact with Phillips around 12:20 p.m. Sunday in the area of Hardacre and Route 37 to serve the warrant. Phillips allegedly climbed into his vehicle and fled the area, almost striking a Marion County Sheriff’s squad car in the process.

He fled southbound on Route 37 at speeds in excess of 70 mph. The pursuit continued southbound toward Route 161 before entering southbound Interstate 57 with speeds exceeding 90 mph. As the pursuit entered Jefferson County, Phillips took Route 15 westbound into Washington County before taking the southbound lanes of Highway 51 north into Centralia.

Authorities were able to stop the vehicle on Route 51 and Mernor Road with the aid of stop sticks. Phillips was taken into custody and was transported to the Marion County Jail.

He had been arrested last month on a Marion County warrant for failure to appear on a February charge of distribution of less than 15 grams of methamphetamine – a Class 1 felony. He was released Thursday on a $25,000 recognizance bond.