CLAY COUNTY, IL — Bond has been set at $500,000 for a 54-year-old Louisville man arrested in connection with the weekend theft of a transport vehicle from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Clay County State’s Attorney’s Office, Matthew D. Bickley has been charged with Unlawful Possession of Stolen Vehicle, Criminal Damage to State-Supported Property, and Aggravated Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.

The sheriff’s office says they discovered the transport vehicle missing around 9:20 a.m. Saturday. Upon reviewing the security footage, it was learned that the theft occurred at approximately 1:17 a.m. Later that day, the sheriff’s office received information on the whereabouts of the vehicle and the suspect. It was reported that the suspect said he had a firearm and was going to kill cops or be killed by cops. A pursuit ensued after deputies located the vehicle near Dogwood Road and Highway 50, where the driver refused stop.

At one point during the pursuit, the suspect swerved into the Sheriff’s patrol truck striking the left front of the vehicle. Also during the pursuit, law enforcement observed evidence that led them to believe that suspect had a self-inflicted injury. Eventually the vehicle left the roadway and became disabled. The members of the sheriff’s office quickly approached the vehicle, removed the suspect from the vehicle and rendered first aid until the arrival of EMS.

The suspect, now identified as Bickley, was ultimately airlifted from the scene to a regional hospital for treatment of his injuries.