ALTON/GRANITE CITY – Two local men accused of leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car before crashing and fleeing the scene on foot face felony charges in two connected cases.
Jared M. Heil, 25, of Alton, and Rodriquez T. Harris, 32, of Granite City, were each charged in Madison County with Class 2 felony counts of offenses related to motor vehicles. Harris also faces a Class 4 felony count of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer.
Heil and Harris were both allegedly knowingly in possession of a stolen 2019 Nissan Sentra on July 22, 2026. On the same day, Harris reportedly attempted to flee from an investigator with the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force at over 21 mph above the legal speed limit after being given a signal to stop the vehicle.
A Metro East Auto Theft Task Force investigator reportedly saw an individual later identified as Harris enter the driver’s side of the stolen vehicle while at a St. Louis gas station on July 22. After leaving the gas station, Harris reportedly drove the vehicle onto Interstate 270 before turning into another gas station parking lot in Granite City, where the investigator attempted to conduct a traffic stop.
Heil, identified as the passenger in the same stolen vehicle, then allegedly told Harris to “go go go” when law enforcement arrived, according to the state’s petitions to deny pretrial release for both suspects. Harris is accused of fleeing the traffic stop at 80 mph in a 55 mph zone, traveling from Granite City to Madison, Ill. before “numerous marked law enforcement vehicles joined the pursuit.”
“The stolen vehicle ultimately hit a curb on Market Street in Madison, which was captured on City camera footage. The stolen vehicle became immobilized,” the petition to keep Harris detained states. “
Harris and Heil reportedly exited the stolen vehicle and fled on foot. The petition to keep Harris detained states he “jumped several fences” before entering an occupied stationary vehicle and telling the driver to take him to St. Louis.
“[Harris] was taken into custody the following day when an Alton Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which defendant was a passenger,” the petition states. “[Harris] admitted to being the driver of the stolen vehicle and admitted fleeing the traffic stop.”
The petition to deny Heil’s pretrial release from custody in this case notes he is currently already out on pretrial release conditions in six prior felony cases, each filed in 2023, and that he “has a history of being involved with stolen motor vehicle offenses.”
The Metro East Auto Theft Task Force presented both cases against Harris and Heil, both of whom were ordered remanded to jail for their initial appearances in court.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
