Armed robbery report, pursuit ends with three arrests

Three Saline County men were arrested after a pursuit and placed in the Saline County Detention Center on charges of armed robbery.

The three arrested were Kashmere Ahmed Barnes, 19, 811 S. Main St., Harrisburg; Collin Joseph Crim, 19, 323 E. Washington St., Carrier Mills; and Paul Eugene Marshall Jr., 19, 139 Karen Ann Lane, Carrier Mills, according to jail booking information.

Saline County Central Dispatch received a 911 call at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, from a male, reporting he had been robbed by three men with guns, at a residence located near Muddy Road and College Road in Saline County, according to a release from the Saline County Sheriff's Keith Brown.

The caller reported that the suspects had left in a black Pontiac. Saline County Sheriff Keith Brown encountered the suspect vehicle at the east edge of Harrisburg on state 13. The vehicle refused to stop for Saline County officers and a pursuit continued west through Harrisburg and turned onto Illinois 13, off of Poplar Street. The pursuit continued towards the Bankston area on Old Route 13, turned onto New Illinois 13 and continued towards the Saline/Williamson County line.

The Illinois Secretary of State Police encountered the west boundvehicle near Jordan's Curve and was in excess of 109 miles per hour. The vehicle was pursued by the Secretary of State officer, to the east city limits of Marion, where officers from Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Marion Police and Illinois State Police were waiting. The driver and his passengers were taken into custody without incident.

Saline County Deputies continued the investigation into the evening and from a public report a hand gun was located by the Harrisburg Police near Huck's on West Poplar Street in Harrisburg.

A second weapon was located by Harrisburg Police and Saline County Officer's near the soccer field on West Poplar Street.

"The old saying you can outrun a squad car, but its hard to outrun the radio played large part in the investigation," said Sheriff Keith Brown.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted in this investigation by Harrisburg Police, Carrier Mills Police, Illinois State Police and Secretary of State Police, Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Marion County Police and the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force.

"Dispatcher information and calls reporting both the location of the black Pontiac and location of the weapon played a huge role in the investigation and making the arrests quickly," said Sheriff Brown.

All were initially charged with armed robbery, further charges are pending after a review of all reports to the Saline County State's Attorney.