Multiple Police Chases Monday Morning End In Illinois
Lake County Sheriff’s Department Officers are looking for the driver of a car who led police on a chase at speeds of more than 120 miles an hour from Gary into Illinois this morning, Lake County Sheriff Spokeswoman Pam Jones said.
It began near 5th Avenue and Burr Street in Gary Shortly after 11 a.m., officers patrolling that area attempted to stop a black Infiniti for a suspected license plate violation. Officers determined the license plate had been stolen and attempted to initiate a stop. The driver refused to stop and headed on to I-80/94 at a high rate of speed. Two police units were able to perform a driving maneuver effectively boxing the fleeing vehicle in near the Bishop Ford Freeway at 159th Street. At that time, the driver crawled over his female passenger who was sitting in the passenger seat, and scrambled out of the passenger window. The subject ran into some nearby woods and into a neighborhood.
Lake County officers were advised that Illinois State Police saw a subject get into a red Nissan in the area and, at the time, it was believed that subject could be the same person who had led Lake County officers on the pursuit. That subject eventually crashed, but continued onto 130th Street, where he baled out of the vehicle, ran through a neighborhood and was eventually apprehended by a Lake County officer. The Lake County Sheriff Helicopter played a huge role in the capture of this suspect.
Preliminary information on this driver indicates he was not involved in the earlier pursuit which began in Gary. But officers learned the vehicle he was driving was reported stolen. The suspect from this pursuit is facing charges in Calumet City, Illinois.
“I am extremely proud of the dedication, professionalism and teamwork shown by all of the officers working on these cases and their efforts to prevent any members of the public from getting hurt,” said Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. “We are extremely grateful for the assistance of the Illinois State Police and Calumet City Police Department.”
“Lake County officers continue to investigate the earlier pursuit in an effort to make an arrest,” said Sheriff Martinez. The female passenger in the pursuit from Gary is being held for questioning, police said.
