MARION – An early Friday morning traffic stop in Marion turned into a vehicle and foot pursuit with law enforcement that ended with a Cairo man’s arrest on drug charges.

According to Marion Police, at 12;25 a.m., Marion Police stopped a Blue Cadillac Escalade for a traffic violation. After the officer got out of his squad car to approach the traffic violator, the Escalade in question sped away. While Marion officers were attempting to re-engage with the SUV, it stopped on Meadowland Parkway and three people inside the vehicle fled on foot.

With assistance from Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies and Illinois State Police troopers, Marion Police began a search for the offenders. Police came upon a fenced area containing three dumpsters. While looking inside one of the dumpsters, police located a black male lying in the dumpster. Also lying in the dumpster was a backpack that contained 505 grams of powder cocaine, 468 grams of illegal cannabis, and $1,261 in cash. The male in the dumpster was identified as 35-year-old Corey D. Williams of Cairo. Williams was taken into custody and lodged in the Williamson County Jail pending a first court appearance.

Williams is charged with Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Cannabis-More than 100 Grams but Less Than 500 Grams and Resisting a Peace officer. The other two occupants of the vehicle were not located and have not been identified.