3-county chase ends in Rantoul

A 37-year-old Arkansas man is jailed in Pontiac after a high-speed police pursuit that ran across three counties. Michael Gathing of Fayetteville (AR) was stopped and apprehended Wednesday in Rantoul.

Police reported Gathing allegedly stole a vehicle in Kankakee, then robbed a Gilman gas station, before leading authorities on the get-away chase. He was stopped near Rantoul when police used stop-sticks to flatten the tires of Gathing's car.

Kankakee Police reported a Kankakee resident, Ivy J. Anderson, notified police about 2 am that his SUV had been taken from his home. Anderson told police Gathing, a former friend who had been staying with him, took the keys to the SUV and left in it.

Later that morning, Gathing then allegedly committed a "strong-arm" robbery at the Shell gas station in Gilman.
Paxton Police reported Gathing left the gas station heading westbound on U.S. 24 toward the Livingston County towns of Forrest and Fairbury. As Gathing entered Forrest, Fairbury police patrolling the area tried to make a traffic stop, but Gathing fled south on Illinois 47 toward Gibson City.

A high-speed chase ensued, Bane said.
Ford County sheriff's deputies and Gibson City police joined Fairbury police in the pursuit. A Paxton police officer "cut him off," forcing Gathing to head southbound on I-57.

Rantoul police and the Champaign County Sheriff's Office were able to stop Gathing's vehicle using "spike strips" about two miles south of Rantoul.

Around 3:45 a.m., Gathing was taken into custody by Fairbury police.

The Livingston County State's Attorney's Office is reviewing the case.

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