Prosecutors say a man threatened to shoot up a cell phone store and then led police on a 40-minute pursuit where he nearly struck two police officers in Winthrop Harbor Tuesday morning.
Trent J. Schneider, 54, of Winthrop Harbor, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer, four counts of aggravated assault, aggravated fleeing to elude and resisting a peace officer causing injury.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Francis DeRosa said Schneider called 911 on Tuesday threatening to shoot up a T-Mobile store.
The man did not specify which location and the dispatcher attempted to get more information from him.
Schneider allegedly replied, “You have no f—ing brains. You need to be executed you dumb mother—-er. You need to be shot in the head. You need to be set on fire,” according to DeRosa.
Officers headed towards Schneider’s residence in Winthrop Harbor and they found him pulling out of his driveway.
Schneider passed one of the officers and they tried to initiate a traffic stop but a chase ensued, DeRosa said.
DeRosa said that Schneider ran approximately 10 stop signs and two stop lights during the pursuit, which lasted for over 40 minutes.
Zion police officers responded to assist the Winthrop Harbor Police Department.
Officers attempted to deploy stop sticks at one point.
Schneider took a wide turn and drove straight toward the officers who were deploying the stop sticks, DeRosa said.
Schneider turned back into the proper lanes just prior to striking the officers.
DeRosa said Schneider drove home as officers continued to chase him and drove into his garage where he closed the overhead door.
The garage door came to a close but opened back up once it touched the ground.
Schneider exited the vehicle “aggressively” and struck an officer in the left arm, DeRosa said.
Schneider was allegedly disobeying verbal commands and actively resisting arrest.
One officer took Schneider to the ground and the man allegedly began pulling at the officer and tried striking another officer, who deployed their taser.
In addition to his charges, he was also given 22 citations for various traffic offenses, including improper turn signal and disregarding a stop sign.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Schneider held on a $500,000 bond.
Potkonjak also said that a firearms restraining order had been granted against Schneider in another courtroom just prior to the bond hearing.
Schneider remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $50,000 cash in order to be released.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 17.