ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A former Pagedale police officer is being accused of his role in a police pursuit that happened in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

According to news partners at the Post-Dispatch, Theo Ryans, 35, was driving over 80 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone back in February.

Court documents say that police attempted to pull over the SUV Ryans was driving, but he sped off.

Officials, however, were able to use a license plate reader, tracing the car’s ownership back to Ryans. According to reports, the 35-year-old was serving as an off-duty officer at the time. 

State filings reported that back in 2019, Ryans’ peace officer license was put on probation after he allegedly attempted to steal a shirt at the South County mall. 

Currently, Ryans still maintains his peace officer license.