MARION COUNTY — Bail has been set at $100,000 for a 32-year-old Salem man who took multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase from near Salem and into Centralia Wednesday.

Ian Nicholas Meredith (Source: mugshots.com)
Ian Nicholas Meredith
(Source: mugshots.com)

Ian Nicholas Meredith was formally charged this morning in Marion County Court with Class 1 felony aggravated possession of between 2-5 stolen firearms, Class 2 felonies for possession of stolen license plates, two counts felon in possession of a firearm, and aggravated battery to a peace officer, and Class 4 felony aggravated fleeing police.

Meredith remains in the Marion County Jail with an August 23 first appearance scheduled with his court appointed attorney.

Meredith’s passenger, 22-year-old Melanie Scerba, of Wamac, has been charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bail is set at $1,500 and she’s scheduled for an August 4 first appearance with her court appointed attorney.

Marion County Sheriff’s deputies reportedly began the pursuit near Salem and continued to County Line and Airport roads in Centralia where Centralia police joined in the pursuit around 6:15 a.m. Wednesday.

With speeds exceeding 96 miles per hour at one point, the subject reportedly managed to avoid stop sticks that were deployed at multiple locations, and even drove into someone’s yard at one location.

Speeds slowed somewhat as the pursuit reached Highway 51 in Centralia and continued north through town. Centralia officers ahead of the pursuit raced to stop traffic at intersections to prevent the subject from colliding with civilians.

The pursuit finally came to a halt just before 6:30 a.m. near the intersection of Lincoln and Rhodes.

One sheriff’s deputy’s squad car was reportedly damaged in the pursuit, but no injuries were reported.