Indiana Man Apprehended Tuesday Afternoon

On Tuesday morning at approximately 10:58 the Effingham County Sheriff's Office was contacted regarding a suspicious vehicle parked in a rural driveway a mile east of Effingham, with a driver honking the horn. The vehicle was reported to be occupied by a single black male who appeared to be intoxicated. He was asking for gas from the homeowner who told him they had none. The vehicle left the residence and patrol deputies began to search for the reported intoxicated driver.

At 12:09 in the afternoon the Sheriff's Office received a call from a women who arrived home at a residence not far from the initial call and met a black male leaving her residence driving her maroon Chevy Silverado pickup. She turned around to follow the truck and called the Sheriff's Office. The suspect drove south and east approximately two miles and abandoned the truck in a wooded area near the Little Salt Creek. The owner stayed in her vehicle near the intersection of 1700th St. and 1100th Ave. until Deputies arrived a few moments later.

With assistance from the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Secretary of State Police, and Effingham City Police, the Effingham County Sherrif's Office established a perimeter around the abandoned truck that covered over four square miles due to the rough terrain and the lack of roads in the area.

At 2:13pm a call was received by the Sheriff's Office from a local farmer who advised of a black male walking along a field edge near the dead end of 1750th Street, a quarter mile north of the State Police blacktop, which is 875th Ave. Several units responded and the subject was taken into custody by two ISP Troopers without incident. 

The subject was Michael L. Griffie, age 49, from Terre Haute. Griffie had on his person a small amount of suspected methamphetamines, a loaded Glock .40 pistol and a loaded JMZ .380 pistol. He was apprehended over two miles south of the abandoned stolen pickup. 

Griffie was charged with two counts of Possession of a Firearm and Ammo by a Felon, two counts of Aggrevated Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon,  two counts of Unlawful Use/Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, Possession of Methamphetamines, Motor Vehicle Theft, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, and Burglary. Griffie was in jail at last report.

Effingham County Sheriff Dave Mahon would like to thank the many local residents who helped law enforcement bring this incident to a successful resolution, without injury.

Mahon said “With the help of our great community and our fellow Law Enforcement partners, the Illinois State Police, the Secretary of State Police, and the Effingham City Police, we were able to work together for the good of our Community.”