Robert H. Rush, submitted photo
HARDIN/SALINE COs., Ill.—The man who ran from Hardin County authorities yesterday was convinced to turn himself in by family members after her was injured while on the run.
According to Hardin County officials, Robert Rush, age 30, was injured at some point during his time as a fugitive, which occurred at about 11:30 yesterday (Friday, October 17) when he ran from a deputy in Hardin attempting to fingerprint him due to an arrest (we’re working on what it was, exactly, that brought him in to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department custody to begin with).
Upon allegedly stealing a four-wheeler and getting away from Hardin, Rush was able to make his way to St. Louis, where he sought treatment at a hospital there, for injuries unknown at this time.
After treatment, he made his way back to Saline County and to Carrier Mills, where he has family. That family convinced him to turn himself in, and an unnamed man contacted an officer at Carrier Mills PD, where Rush went to do so.
We don’t have information on what he was going into Hardin County Sheriff’s Department for; we’re working on that too.
However, we do know this tidbit of information from an Elizabethtown resident, who advised that an unknown number of years back, Rush allegedly stole a brand new $50,000 pickup at a party in Golconda “because he wanted to leave.” It was reported that he drove the truck to Elizabethtown, parked in front of Town & Country restaurant, went inside (they were not open yet) and left the keys on the counter.
Rush also was also the subject of an undated incident at the E-town tap, where he allegedly got into a fight with an employee and the owner stepped in. This resulted in an alleged beating of the owner. Our source on this advised that Tara Wallace, Hardin County prosecutor, did nothing about it, reportedly because his father is Tim Rush, a businessman in Hardin and half owner of the E-town Express, the new gas station and restaurant in town.
Whether or not this is the real reason for Rush’s ongoing freedom remains at issue…but a further issue is the possibility that even in this extreme situation, it’s entirely likely that nothing will be done with Rush AGAIN, due to Wallace and her disinclination to pursue justice on the most serious of crimes in her county. If folks are lucky, it may turn out that whatever subsequent vehicle Rush is alleged to have stolen might even have come from out of state, where they won’t care who Rush is or how he’s connected…and another Hardin County problem can be finally taken care of.
Hardin County Sheriff JT Fricker released the following to the press a little earlier this evening:
Robert Rush, Escapee from Hardin County Jail, turned himself in to Carrier Mills police department around noon today.
Sheriff Fricker appreciates all assistance from surrounding area departments and all volunteers.
Thank You,
Hardin County Sheriff Jerry Fricker