Local Man Given Prison Time for Aggravated Battery

(CANFIELD)

Effingham resident Tomas Canfield has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated battery.

The 30-year-old Canfield was arrested after a series of incidents in May. City police investigators reported at the time that Canfield was spotted sticking his head out of the window and driving across three lanes of traffic in the area of Keller Drive and Evergreen Avenue. When police attempted to stop Canfield, he continued on his way and collided with a vehicle, then fled the scene and ran off Fayette Avenue, causing damage to the yard at Lupita's Mexican Store and then going back onto the roadway, colliding with another vehicle at the intersection of Fayette and Maple.

Police pursued Canfield, but when he began traveling at a high rate of speed in town, the pursuit was ended. Canfield was later located in a city parking lot, but when police attempted to arrest Canfield, he exited the lot and struck Police Chief Jason McFarland's squad car and fled the scene. Canfield was stopped and taken into custody a short time later.