A woman from rural Effingham remained in a Marion County jail after her arrest on Sunday afternoon after a high speed chase.
Kendall Devore, 30, faces multiple charges including aggravated fleeing and eluding police through at least two traffic control devices and misdemeanor retail theft. The fleeing charge is a Class 4 felony and can be punishable by up to three years in prison. Devore’s preliminary hearing is set for June 28th at 10:30 AM. Devore remains in jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.
A police officer tried to stop the vehicle that Devore was driving but the SUV was driven down Lincoln Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and into Foundation Park in Centralia. The SUV was then driven across the grass and a wooden pedestrian bridge. This caused about $1,000 in damage. Devore had a passenger, Rose Bounds, who exited the vehicle at this point.
The vehicle disappeared for a short time before police relocated Devore and chased her through downtown Centralia. Police followed Devore on Elm Street into Central City. Devore then missed a turn into an alley south of Ellis Street where she hit a fence and struck a hole in a grassy area that caused the SUV to flip over.
Devore was arrested as she tried to climb out the passenger window. Police found crack cocaine, cannabis, an electronic scale and a stun gun in a purse in the SUV.
Bounds, 29, of Walnut Hill, was found in Foundation Park hiding under some tree roots in a dry creek bed. Both Bounds and Devore were treated and released at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia before being transferred to the Salem jail.
Bounds faces a Class X felony charge of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. Bounds purse allegedly contained individually wrapped baggies of cocaine. Bounds is also being held on a Marion County warrant for failure to appear in court on an earlier drug charge, as well as felony retail theft. Surveillance video from a Central City Dollar General showed stolen items found in the vehicle.
Bounds’ retail theft charge is a felony because she has a prior conviction. Bounds remained in jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.