GRANITE CITY – A Missouri resident accused of causing over $10,000 in property damage while fleeing from the Granite City Police faces multiple felony charges in Madison County.
Michael C. Roth, 53, of Pevely, Mo., was charged on Oct. 19, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of criminal damage to government supported property and two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer.
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Roth allegedly fled from a Granite City Police officer after being given a signal to stop his vehicle on Oct. 18, 2026. His attempt to elude officers reportedly involved the disobedience of multiple traffic control devices and significant property damage, including over $10,000 in damage to metal fencing at The Mill event center and over $300 in damage to other property.
The incident unfolded after an officer attempted a traffic stop for registration issues on Roth’s vehicle, according to a petition to deny his pretrial release filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“Defendant fled, accelerating from the officer, and disregarded more than 10 traffic control devices in a residential neighborhood,” the petition states. “During his flight, defendant struck a median, but continued to flee, then crashing his vehicle through the metal gates of The Mill event center, striking signage for the Six Mile Regional Library District, and crashing into the brick library building.”
Roth then reportedly exited the vehicle before fleeing on foot, ignoring police orders to stop while jumping multiple fences. He eventually hid under a vehicle before being found and apprehended. The petition adds Roth “admitted he fled because he believed he had warrants.”
The state’s petition was granted, with a detention order filed in this case stating the court cannot impose any other condition or combination of conditions to mitigate the risk Roth poses to “the safety of other motorists, pedestrians and occupants of nearby homes and businesses, the pursuing police officer and the defendant himself.” The order also confirms Roth had an active arrest warrant at the time of these latest offenses.
“Defendant, following lights and sirens, fled from police at a high rate of speed through multiple traffic control devices, both stop signs and stop lights, in a highly populated area,” the detention order states. “For a great majority of the flight as presented on dash cam, there were vehicles parked on both sides of the narrow roadways. Defendant eventually lost control of his motor vehicle, striking a fence, a sign and then the library building.”
The Granite City Police Department presented the case against Roth, who currently remains in custody at the Madison County Jail pending trial.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
