BLOOMINGTON -- A Bloomington man is being detained in the McLean County jail after authorities said he ran from the scene of a fatal crash.
Michael C. Mitchell, 25, is charged with:
reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony;failure to report a motor vehicle crash involving death, a Class 1 felony;failure to report a motor vehicle crash involving injury, a Class 2 felony;failure to stop after motor vehicle crash involving death, a Class 4 felony;failure to stop after motor vehicle crash involving personal injury, a Class 4 felony;two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, Class 2 felonies;three citations for driving on a revoked license, failure to give information/render aid, and improper passing, all Class A misdemeanors.
Mitchell was seen Monday afternoon for an initial appearance before Judge Scott Black, during which Black noted five of the offenses he is charged with are detention-eligible.
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The prosecution, represented by Assistant State's Attorney David Fitt, filed a petition to detain Mitchell on dangerousness and willful flight.
According to the probable cause statement, Mitchell was the driver at fault in a two-vehicle crash on Nov. 3 in the area of Beich and Fox Creek roads, Fitt said.
Mitchell was driving westbound on Fox Creek when his car collided with another car that was traveling eastbound on the same street. Bloomington police were dispatched about 7:49 p.m. to the crash on the two-lane overpass near a curve in the motorway, Fitt said.
When officers arrived, they found Chakiquia Echols, 27, lying across the passenger seat. Echols and Mitchell were in a dating relationship at the time of the crash, the prosecutor noted.
She was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced deceased. Echols' family members attended Monday's hearing, watching from the back of the courtroom.
An autopsy report for Echols is pending.
The driver of the other car suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening. She spoke with officers before she was transported for medical treatment, Fitt said.
She said she was traveling approximately 40 mph, cautious as she approached the curve in the road, which has a 45-mph speed limit.
She saw Mitchell's vehicle cross into her lane, coming at her quickly. Fitt said Mitchell's vehicle was estimated to be driving approximately 80 mph.
The other driver remained in hospitalized as of late Monday afternoon.
Mitchell was not at the scene of the crash when officers arrived because he had fled on foot to a nearby apartment complex, Fitt said.
When police found the defendant inside an apartment, Mitchell refused to exit a closet, in which he was hiding.
Officers had to remove Mitchell after he had lodged himself between mattresses inside the closet, Fitt said.
When police searched the apartment, they located a 9 mm Glock handgun with a loaded extended magazine inside a drawer in the living room.
Fitt said Mitchell told police the firearm belonged to him and said the gun was in the vehicle at the time of the crash, near the arm rest.
The defendant also told police he left the scene because his license was revoked, not because the gun was in the car, Fitt said.
Assistant Public Defender Wendy Maulson asked the judge to release the defendant, noting the public safety report recommended release for this offense.
Additionally, she noted Mitchell suffered injuries as a result of the crash, including a broken hip that needs medical treatment.
"He was certainly healthy enough to flee the scene that day," Fitt said in rebuttal.
Maulson argued Mitchell did not flee but instead was confused, saying he fell asleep at the wheel, which caused the collision.
Mitchell had blood and urine samples drawn to be tested for drugs and alcohol after the crash, but those results were still pending Monday, Fitt said.
"He, as an active felon, is driving with a firearm right next to him, and he's admitting to it. That alone should earn him detention," the prosecutor told the judge.
"Far more important is the reckless homicide; the facts of this case speak better than I ever could about it. He passed at an overpass, hit another vehicle head-on, and left (Echols) in the car to die so he can get away," Fitt argued. "He has no regard at all for not only court orders, but human life."
Black agreed with the state's petition for dangerousness but did not find the defendant to be a flight risk.
Mitchell had "no concern for any oncoming traffic, his passenger or himself," Black said, in giving his ruling. "Fleeing the scene, leaving one to die and another injured, not able to take accountability by fleeing the scene, and refusing to come out of the closet once police encountered him."
Echols' family members and Mitchell exchanged heated words as the defendant was taken back into custody after the hearing concluded.
Mitchell will be back in court Nov. 15 for an arraignment on Nov. 15.
Contact Kaitlyn Klepec at (309) 820-3345.
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