CENTRALIA — A 27-year-old Vandalia man has been arrested by Centralia police in connection with a stabbing last month that sent a 22-year-old Centralia man to the hospital after he was allegedly stabbed in the eye.

Jerrad Simpson remains in the Marion County Jail awaiting the formal filing of charges and the setting of bail.

Jerrad Simpson (Source: MCSO)
Jerrad Simpson
(Source: MCSO)

Simpson was arrested Sunday when Centralia police spotted him running across North Poplar Street at Kerr Street.

He was allegedly in possession of two baggies at the time of his arrest, one containing a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, and another that tested positive for cocaine.

Marion County prosecutors charged him Monday with possession of less than 5-grams of meth, and bail in that case was set at $10,000.

Simpson was also allegedly wanted on outstanding Marion County and Illinois Department of Corrections warrants at the time of his Sunday arrest.

Police have charged Simpson with aggravated battery for the July 8, stabbing of Richard Atchison Jr.

According to reports, Atchison said he was jumped by Simpson and a second man in the 100 block of Johnson Street in Centralia after they claimed he’d stolen their cannabis. He told police Simpson then pulled a knife and stabbed him in the face.

Atchison managed to run to a nearby house where residents called 911. Simpson and the other man reportedly fled the area before police arrived and Atchison was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Simpson denies being involved in a fight with Atchison that day, and added that he didn’t see Atchison involved in a fight with anyone that day.