EC Police Chief Pursues Suspect Ending In Crash In Hammond
On May 14, 2020 at approximately 8:25am East Chicago Police Chief Hector Rosario was driving an unmarked squad car Westbound on Columbus Drive when he observed a four door white Ford Escape with Illinois plates recklessly drive around him and disregard the red light at Columbus Drive and Railroad Avenue, according to Deputy Chief Jose Rivera of the EC Police. Chief Rosario initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver who was later identified as Ricandra Sheard, of Chicago Illinois. Mrs. Sheard was uncooperative and advised Chief Rosario that she did not have an ID or her driver’s license or registration on her, Rivera said. Chief Rosario went back to his squad car to request another officer on scene and to have dispatch run the license plate information. As Chief Rosario was requesting information from dispatch the driver fled the scene. Chief Rosario pursued the vehicle and observed the vehicle disregard the red light at the intersection of Indianapolis Blvd and Columbus Drive. The driver refused to stop and turned West on Gostlin toward Hammond. Chief Rosario turned off the lights and sirens to his unmarked squad car and terminated the pursuit in the area of Gostlin and Calumet Avenue, Rivera stated. Chief Rosario had dispatch notify Hammond PD in reference to the reckless driver going through their city. Chief Rosario was in the process of turning around to go back to East Chicago when he observed the offending vehicle crash at a construction site just west of Calumet Avenue. The vehicle had side swiped a Nipsco pole, crashed through a chain link fence and struck some large metal sewer pipes in the construction site. No construction workers or other vehicles were struck, according to Rivera.
Chief Rosario requested an ambulance and Hammond PD to the scene. The driver of the vehicle suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to St. Catherine’s Hospital for treatment.
The driver of the vehicle is being uncooperative so it is unknown at this time why the driver fled, police said. Driver will be cited for numerous traffic infractions and she will be charged with a misdemeanor count of Reckless Driving and a felony count of Resisting Law Enforcement.
