Two arrested following a cross-county car chase | News

DANVILLE — Two Champaign County men were arrested after a Wednesday night car chase that crossed county lines.

Keyshun T. Williams, 19, Champaign, was arrested on preliminary charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, resisting and obstructing a police officer and possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification card (FOID), plus an outstanding warrant for a traffic violation, the Danville Police Department said.

Taqwaun Pye, 21, Urbana, was arrested on preliminary charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault, resisting and obstructing a police officer, driving with a suspended license, possession of ammunition without a FOID and possession of a controlled substance.

Danville Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of ​​Williams and Hazel streets around 6:19 p.m. Wednesday on a black Ford Fusion because the registered owner has a suspended license.

The driver, later identified as Pye, did not stop and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle stopped briefly in the area of ​​Williams and Jackson streets with a passenger, later identified as Williams, exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot.

Officers chased Williams and arrested him near the 100 block of Cherry Street. During the arrest, officers searched the area and recovered a loaded handgun.

After Williams exited the vehicle, the pursuit resumed, with the suspect’s vehicle eventually leaving city limits heading west on I-74, police said.

The Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department assisted Danville Police as the pursuit continued on I-74 into Champaign County and then into Urbana on University Avenue.

The suspect vehicle traveled through several streets in both Urbana and Champaign before returning to Urbana and stopping in the 1500 block of Cunningham Avenue, police said. Pye then fled on foot but was taken into custody after a short chase, they said.

He was found to be in possession of a backpack containing several rounds of live ammunition as well as suspected methamphetamine and cannabis.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Danville Police at 217-431-2250 or Vermilion County Crime Stoppers at 217-446-TIPS.