MT. VERNON — A 49-year-old Mt. Vernon man was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon following a police chase in Jefferson County, just hours after the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office described him as “armed and dangerous.”

The sheriff’s office confirms shots were fired during a pursuit of John Brown Wednesday near Bonnie.

Law enforcement had earlier in the day released information saying Brown was wanted on a warrant charging him with aggravated battery and theft. They cautioned that he was considered armed and dangerous and had threatened police.

During the pursuit law enforcement deployed spike strips around 3:30 p.m. and shot into Brown’s tires before taking him into custody.

Brown captured local headlines last summer when he was indicted in Jefferson County Court with Class X felony aggravated arson knowing people present for allegedly pouring gasoline around the inside his girlfriend’s residence on Dix/Irvington Road, setting it ablaze with his family inside, and then fleeing the home on foot.

The family was able to escape the fire without injury, but the home and its contents were destroyed. Brown was ultimately arrested at a Centralia residence after a day-long search for him throughout the area.

Brown remained in the Jefferson County Jail for approximately three months until $15,000 cash bond was posted on his behalf and he was released to await trial.

He has since been arrested in Washington County on a charge of felony driving while license revoked or suspended more than 10 but less than 14 times. He posted bond and was released in that case as well.