URBANA – Ron Blakey said he couldn't help but notice a man hunched over near his van in Philo Monday morning and went to offer him a hand.

Blakey's concern – and the police chase that ensued – resulted in getting a man off the road who police say was driving drunk, and who has a history of driving-under-the-influence convictions.

Shawn Bahrs, 46, of Philo, is now being held in the Champaign County jail in lieu of $1 million bond, awaiting trial in two counties on aggravated DUI charges. He is tentatively scheduled to be tried later this month in Douglas County for driving drunk in Villa Grove in August.

Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said Bahrs has four previous DUI convictions and is on parole for residential burglary, making him eligible for a prison term of six to 60 years if convicted of the DUI, aggravated fleeing and driving under revocation in his Champaign County case. And that sentence would have to be served after any he receives in Douglas County if convicted there.

Blakey, a News-Gazette employee, said he was collecting money from a newspaper vending machine on West Washington street in the Philo business district about 10:30 a.m. Monday and saw a man standing near his van who appeared ill.

"He was hunched over. I walked near him and said, 'Sir, are you okay?' When he responded, I could tell he was intoxicated," Blakey said, adding he saw a large alcohol bottle on the front seat of the man's van.

"He got a little confrontational. I said, 'I was just checking on you,'" said Blakey, who got in his car, went around the block, and got the van's license number. He then called 911 and watched from a distance, figuring he'd wait until a deputy arrived.

When the van took off toward Illinois 130, Blakey followed him and called 911 again.

"He was swerving into the oncoming traffic and went from shoulder to shoulder," Blakey said, almost from the minute he turned onto 130. "There were at least four incidents where he nearly hit someone in the other lane. I didn't drive any faster than he did and I stopped at 60."

Blakey said he stayed on the phone with METCAD until he saw a deputy try to stop Bahrs near the Wal-Mart at High Cross Road and Tatman Court.

But Rietz said when police pulled in behind Bahrs, he took off to the north in the southbound lane and turned east on to Airport Road, then back north on Cunningham Avenue, again driving north in the southbound lane.

Champaign County sheriff's Lt. Allen Jones said from Cunningham, Bahrs then went to Olympian Drive and worked his way over to North Lincoln Avenue. Two deputies got Bahrs blocked in a cul-de-sac off North Lincoln but he drove around them into a field and came back to the south. Jones said he joined his deputies and threw out "stop sticks" designed to flatten tires, which Bahrs ran over.

Jones said that flattened the van's driver's side tires but Bahrs was able to make it back south to Bradley Avenue.

"When he turned east on Bradley, the tires came off the rims and he was unable to control the van and it went into a snow bank and was stuck," Jones said.

He got out and three deputies quickly took him into custody. The pursuit lasted just under 30 minutes from the time of Blakey's call.

Jones said because of Bahr's level of intoxication, deputies took him to Carle Foundation Hospital to be checked out before transporting him to the jail shortly after noon. He refused to submit to chemical testing, Rietz said.

"Nobody was hurt. Given the time of day with the traffic, it's fortunate nobody was involved in a collision," said Jones.

Rietz said the deputies found three open beer cans and an open bottle of vodka in the van.

Rietz said Bahrs has four prior convictions for DUI dating back to 1985 as well as convictions for aggravated fleeing, driving under revocation, possession of a stolen vehicle, and aggravated battery. He is currently on parole for a 2007 residential burglary conviction.

Douglas County State's Attorney Kevin Nolan said Bahrs is charged with aggravated DUI in his county for an incident that occurred late Aug. 23 and early Aug. 24 during which Bahrs was stopped for drunken driving in Villa Grove. He also refused chemical testing in that arrest, Nolan said.

Bahrs was supposed to have been tried on Jan. 18, but told Douglas County Judge Mike Carroll he needed a continuance because he had hired a private attorney. Champaign attorney Robert Kirchner entered his appearance and was supposed to be in court in Tuscola with Bahrs on Feb. 16.

Rietz and Jones both applauded Blakey for his role in Bahrs' arrest.

"We appreciate Mr. Blakey's concern and willingness to assist law enforcement," she said.