GRANITE CITY – Two Granite City men face felony charges after a rifle was allegedly tossed from a vehicle window during a 100 mph police chase.
Brandon P. Rogozinsky, 33, and Christopher L. Marcum, 49, both of Granite City, were charged on Feb. 5, 2026 with one count each of unlawful possession of a stolen firearm (both Class 2 felonies) and felon in possession of a weapon (both Class 3 felonies). Rogozinsky was additionally charged with one count of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, a Class 4 felony.
The two were allegedly knowingly in possession of a stolen American Tactical Alpha Max 5.56/.223 rifle on Feb. 3, 2026. The weapon was unlawful for both to possess given their prior felony convictions, including Marcum’s prior conviction of theft over $500 and Rogozinsky’s previous conviction of burglary, both in Madison County.
Rogozinsky is also accused of knowingly attempting to flee from a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy who had given him a visual or audible signal to stop the vehicle he was driving at least 21 mph over the legal speed limit.
The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed petitions to keep Rogozinsky and Marcum detained pending trial. According to the petitions, Rogozinsky fled from a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy attempting a traffic stop on Illinois Route 3 in a Ford F-150 which reached speeds of 100 mph in a 55 mph zone. During the pursuit, the deputy reported seeing an AR-15 style rifle “being thrown from the passenger side window.”
Rogozinsky then proceeded to disregard multiple stop signs before losing control of the vehicle and crashing into a fence at the site of Granite City Steel, according to the petitions. Marcum was identified as the passenger of the vehicle and denied possessing the firearm or “having any involvement with firearms.”
Both cases against Rogozinsky and Marcum were presented by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and both currently remain in custody at the Madison County Jail.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
