Belleville man wanted on five felony charges arrested after high-speed police chase

A Belleville man with warrants for his arrest on charges in St. Clair County including felony domestic battery and kidnapping was arrested by local police last week following a high-speed chase in Washington and Perry counties.

The Nashville Police Department arrested Michael Oliver, 45, on Friday, and he faces new criminal charges in Washington County related to the pursuit.

No defense attorney was listed for Oliver in St. Clair County court records on Wednesday. Matt Foster, Oliver’s attorney in Washington County court, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Friday’s pursuit began around 10:30 p.m. when a Nashville police lieutenant attempted to stop a white Ford Explorer that was speeding and passing cars around a curve on Illinois 127 near Richview Road, according to a news release from police.

The Nashville Police Department stated that the Ford Explorer did not stop and accelerated southbound out of Nashville toward Pinckneyville at speeds of over 100 mph. A Pinckneyville police officer set up spike strips on the north end of town, which deflated one of the Ford Explorer’s front tires.

Police believe the SUV drove through the Perry County Courthouse lawn during the pursuit, causing damage.

The SUV eventually struck a Perry County sheriff squad car , disabling both vehicles off the road south of Pinckneyville where they came to a stop. No one was injured, according to the Nashville Police Department.

After a short pursuit on foot, police arrested Oliver and learned about his warrants in St. Clair County.

St. Clair County State’s Attorney Jim Gomric charged Oliver with the following offenses:

• Aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony
• Unlawful restraint, a Class 4 felony
• Three counts of kidnapping, a Class 2 felony

Oliver is accused of striking a family or household member on the head on Jan. 27 in Fairview Heights, grabbing her and preventing her from leaving a car and kidnapping three children, two 9-year-old boys and a 1-year-old girl, according to charging documents.

Associate Judge Sara Rice issued the warrant for his arrest on the St. Clair County felony charges on Jan. 31.

Oliver also has a 2019 warrant from St. Clair County Associate Judge Patricia Kievlan related to traffic offenses in Caseyville.

On Wednesday, Washington County State’s Attorney Daniel Janowski charged Oliver with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude police and unlawful possession of a Missouri license plate, which are both Class 4 felonies.

Police submitted information to Perry County State’s Attorney David Searby Jr. for possible additional charges. Searby had not yet reviewed the information as of Wednesday.