WASHINGTON COUNTY — A 42-year-old rural Centralia man charged with firing shots last summer at Centralia and DuQuoin police has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
(Source: ISP)
Nathan Johnson is charged with half-dozen Class X felony charges in Washington and Perry counties in connection with firing shots at police officers on an August 2018 morning in DuQuoin at his home on Irvington Road in Centralia.
He’s being held in jail on a combined $6 million bail — $1 million in Washington County and $5 million in Perry County.
Johnson’s January 22 jury trial was continued so he can undergo the evaluation and a report can be prepared on the findings.
The jury trial is now scheduled for April 22, with a status hearing on the psychiatric evaluation scheduled for March 5 in Washington County court.
Two of the Perry County charges accuse Johnson with two counts attempted first degree-murder, one for aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer’s vehicle, one for aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer, and one aggravated battery with a firearm for injuries caused to a DuQuoin officer.
Each Class X charge is punishable by between 20 and 60 years in prison if convicted and Johnson is extended term eligible.
Johnson is accused of taking DuQuoin police on a pursuit in which he reportedly fired shots at officers, striking the police chief’s squad car.
The pursuit continued into Centralia, where he reportedly held off officers from multiple agencies in an hours-long standoff at his home in Irvington Road.
He reportedly fired multiple shots at officers during the standoff, striking one Centralia police squad car.
Johnson ultimately surrendered and was taken into custody.