PONTIAC - A jury will decide the fate of a Markham man charged with stealing approximately $11,000 worth of televisions and fleeing the police.

Manual Gaines, 37, discussed various choices with public defender Randell Morgan at his pretrial Monday afternoon and Gaines decided to move forward with a jury trial. The trial will begin during the courts January jury calendar.

Gaines is being charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of aggravated fleeing and one count of reckless driving after an incident in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Pontiac Police were on patrol in Vermillion Plaza when the sound of glass breaking led them to investigate the Rent-A-Center, 5 Vermillion Plaza.

The window to the business was broken and Gaines was found inside a van parked very close the business.

Gaines then fled the scene, causing a patrol car to rear end him on the Interstate 55 northbound ramp when he slammed on the breaks. The van was then found in the area of Livingston County Roads 13160 East and 1600 North. With the aid of thermal detectors and a K9 unit, police later found Gaines hiding in a field.

Four plasma screen televisions were found inside the van, with an estimated worth at $11,400. The van was also reported stolen out of Bloomington and the license plates were reported stolen out of Harvey.

Gaines currently remains in custody at the Livingston County Jail in lieu of posting a $7,500 bond.