Armed driver arrested in Marion after brief pursuit in stolen vehicle

CASE UPDATE: Reinier on December 16, 2021, pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent, an aggravated misdemeanor.

MARION — An 18-year-old faces multiple charges after driving a stolen vehicle while carrying a stolen handgun, Marion police said.

Officers were called just before 6 a.m. Monday to the 5400 block of Business Highway 151 in Marion for reports of a suspicious driver, according to the Marion Police Department. Specifically, according to the criminal complaint, police received a report that a customer in the McDonald’s drive-thru had a pistol on his lap.

Police said the caller reported the white man was driving a silver Nissan Altima.

When officers arrived and attempted to make contact, police said, the driver sped off heading southbound on Highway 13.

Officers pursued the vehicle, but quickly ended the chase for safety reasons, the police department said.

While headed west on Highway 100, police said, the vehicle “became disabled” and caught fire near East Post Road and Oakbrook Drive.

The suspect, identified as Hunter Lee Reinier, gave up and was taken into custody on preliminary charges of eluding and driving while barred, police said. The criminal complaint added charges of second-degree theft, trafficking in stolen weapons and third-degree burglary. The theft, trafficking and eluding charges are Class D felonies.

Police said the vehicle Reinier was driving and the firearm he was carrying had been reported stolen out of Robins. The car’s owner had left his keys and a gun in the car, according to the complaint.

Police said the incident remains under investigation.

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