WAMAC, IL — A 37-year-old Salem man being held for allegedly shooting at a Wamac police officer this summer was released into the custody of the federal government Wednesday in a lead up to an October 25 trial in East St. Louis federal court. Ian Merideth, who has been indicted federally for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm in connection with the alleged July incident, is additionally charged in Clinton County Court with three Class X felonies for attempted murder, and aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer, and aggravated battery of a police officer, along with Class 2 felony being a felon in possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

He’s charged in a separate Clinton County case with Class 1 felony residential burglary. Both Clinton County cases are scheduled for October 20 hearings. Merideth is scheduled to appear in federal court October 25 for a jury trial in East St. Louis. The charges stem from an incident in July where a Wamac officer stopped Merideth walking in the area knowing he had a Marion County warrant for his arrest. Merideth allegedly informed the officer he had a gun on him but before the officer could secure the weapon and cuff him, Merideth fled on foot and at some point reportedly turned with his gun out and fired four rounds at the officer before being taken into custody. Currently on parole for a 2016 conviction out of Marion County for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Merideth was quickly transported to the Clinton County Jail as an investigation began into the incident.

As officers combed the area for evidence, one house and a vehicle were found to have apparently been struck by gunfire. There were no injuries reported.