GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man accused of “driving through a field” during a reckless high-speed flight from police faces felony charges for his latest such offense.
John M. Shea, 36, of Granite City, was charged with two Class 3 felony counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer on March 25, 2026.
Shea allegedly knowingly attempted to flee from a Granite City police officer who had signaled for Shea to stop the vehicle he was driving on Jan. 7, 2026. Charging documents state his flight from the officer exceeded at least 21 miles per hour over the legal speed limit and involved the disobedience of two or more traffic control devices.
A petition to deny Shea’s pretrial release from custody was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, noting Shea at one point began “driving through a field” as he attempted to flee from police.
“Officers attempted a traffic stop and the vehicle fled, ignoring multiple traffic control devices, accelerating to 80 mph in a 55 mph zone and driving through a field,” the petition states. “Officers eventually terminated for public safety.”
Shea was previously convicted of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer in 2023, also in Madison County. The petition notes he was also convicted of reckless homicide “for causing the death of a person during flight from police” in a 2021 Madison County case.
Shea was ordered remanded to jail for his initial court appearance in this case, which was presented by the Granite City Police Department.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
