HERRIN – A West Frankfort man was cited for numerous offenses after leading Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle over the weekend.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies saw the vehicle reported stolen out of West Frankfort late Friday night in a parking lot near 16th and Monroe streets in Herrin around 4:45 p.m. Saturday.  

Deputies boxed the vehicle in to prevent it from leaving and then initiated a felony stop. That’s when the suspect, identified as Kyle E. Kalaher, rapidly accelerated in reverse, ramming the lead patrol unit several times to create an escape path and injuring a deputy before fleeing the scene. Deputies pursued the vehicle going south on Illinois 148, then east on Illinois 13. The vehicle made contact with another vehicle Kalaher tried to pass between two vehicles at the stop light on Illinois 13 and Bainbridge Road.

Kalaher was arrested and taken to the hospital after claiming he had ingested a large amount of meth and due to precautionary measures from the crash. The injured deputy was also taken by ambulance to Deaconess Illinois Medical Center in Marion, where he was listed in stable condition and underwent diagnostic testing for leg and neck injuries.

Meth and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle after it was searched.

Kalaher has an extensive felony criminal history including vehicle theft, burglary and drug-related offenses.

Kalaher was cited for Aggravated Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer, Possession of Methamphetamine, two counts of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding, three counts of Aggravated Assault, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and other motor vehicle and traffic related offenses. He was booked into the Williamson County Jail.