News

Stoker pleads not guilty to all charges

Posted December 04, 2016 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Editor@heraldtrib.com

Back in Randolph County court on Monday for a preliminary hearing on four charges related to the Oct. 28 accident that fatally injured Chester police officer and volunteer firefighter James Brockmeyer, Jason Michael Stoker - through attorney James Kelley - entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

Stoker, 34, of Chester, has been charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and one count each of reckless homicide and first-degree murder.

Testifying during the hearing was Farrin Melton, special agent with the Illinois State Police and 16-year veteran of that agency.

Melton testified that Brockmeyer was originally attempting to stop Stoker on suspicion of no valid driver's license.

The ISP agent said Stoker was also being investigated by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office and the Chester Police Department for "possible" meth possession and distribution.

Melton stated his agency was first contacted by Sheriff Shannon Wolff, who stated that one of his deputies and a CPD officer were involved in a crash.

"(Brockmeyer) was attempting to make a traffic stop on a vehicle that fled from him, resulting in a police pursuit," Melton said.

Melton said surveillance video showed Stoker at Midwest Petroleum - one of the two gas stations on the Missouri side of the Chester Bridge - getting into the 2006 Pontiac G6 he allegedly drove the night of the crash at 10:01 p.m.

Stoker, who was the only stated occupant of the vehicle, then proceeded across the Chester Bridge, where Brockmeyer and another officer were waiting at the Chester Welcome Center.

Melton testified Brockmeyer turned to follow Stoker and activated his squad car's lights and siren, after which Stoker increased his speed to between 80 and 100 mph.

"Both (Brockmeyer's) emergency lights and siren were activated during the pursuit," Melton said.

According to Melton, a Randolph County Sheriff's deputy, Noah Wunderlich, later heard the radio traffic of a vehicle being pursued and responded to assist.

Stoker was driving toward Wunderlich, who was heading south, as the chase proceeded north along Palestine Road north of Chester.

Melton testified that Wunderlich's written report of the accident states he had pulled his squad car partially across the roadway to impede the progress of Stoker.

"All he said is after Mr. Stoker was past him, he attempted to back up to follow him and then noticed Brockmeyer had crashed," Melton said.

Stoker went around the deputy and Wunderlich pulled into a nearby field access road to attempt to turn around to follow the fleeing vehicle.

During a media interview after the hearing, Melton said witness interviews stated Wunderlich had backed up to follow Stoker, noticed the flashing lights of Brockmeyer's police vehicle and pulled slightly forward again to let the other squad car past.

After turning his vehicle around to follow Stoker, that's when Wunderlich noticed Brockmeyer had crashed in the ditch. At that point, officers called off the pursuit to attend to the accident.

In a follow-up interview later Monday, Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker told the Herald Tribune that he believed Wunderlich's emergency lights were activated on the night in question.

"To the best of my knowledge it would have been," Walker said. "I have no reason to believe it wouldn't have been."

Brockmeyer's vehicle crossed the southbound lane and ran off the left side of the road before hitting the embankment of a hill and overturning. Brockmeyer was pinned underneath the vehicle and had to be extricated from the wreckage by Chester firefighters.

He later died at Memorial Hospital of Chester due to his injuries.

Melton noted that Wunderlich was positioned near the top of the hill north of the Gravel Creek Bridge, but could not state the exact location as he was not on scene.

Kelley asked Melton if he had interviewed Wunderlich directly and the ISP agent said he had not.

"At this point, we go with what is stated in the report," Melton said.

Melton also stated the accident reconstruction report - being compiled by ISP Sgt. Robert Ventura - had not been yet been completed and he did not know when it would be complete.

"I believe he's still investigating or writing the report," Melton said.

Melton testified that ISP investigators pulled information from Brockmeyer's squad car that showed the officer was traveling 114 mph at the time of the crash.

He noted that blunt force trauma from the accident was the preliminary cause of death.

Stoker later fled to Missouri after leaving the car at the residence of the car's owner in Evansville. He was captured Nov. 1 by U.S. Marshals deputies at his aunt's house in St. Louis.

Melton testified that in conversations with his aunt about the incident, Stoker admitted he had fled from police and the lights and sirens were activated during the resulting pursuit.

Responding to a question from Kelley about dash cams, Melton noted that the only video is from the gas station.

Circuit Court Judge Richard A. Brown found probable cause on the charges and the parties will be back in court on Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. for a case management conference.

Walker noted the defense's request for a speedy trial demand - requiring the trial to commence within 120 days of the incident - would mean a special jury selection session in February.

Article Categories
Crime News