Armed juvenile suspects crashed into three police squads, including one head-on, and then fled on foot, sparking a large police search in Lake Bluff early Tuesday morning.
The incident happened around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday near Green Bay Road and Thorn Valley Road in Lake Bluff.
A Lake Bluff police officer came upon a suspicious vehicle, which was parked facing eastbound on Thorn Valley Road.
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra began to drive off after the officer’s squad car pulled up alongside them, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The Hyundai struck the driver’s side of the squad while driving off.
The driver of the Hyundai fled, struck a fence and drove southbound on Green Bay Road, Covelli said.
The Hyundai struck a second Lake Bluff police squad head-on.
A third Lake Bluff squad car, which was turning onto Green Bay Road from Route 176, was also struck by the suspect vehicle, Covelli said.
Covelli said the driver of the vehicle fled on foot. The sheriff’s office was notified over 12 hours after the incident occurred and a deputy responded to take the crash report.
Sources told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that three suspects fled from the car in total. Numerous police departments were called to assist in the search.
Officers located and arrested at least two of the three suspects. Two guns were recovered, sources said.
Sources also said the Hyundai involved had numerous bullet holes in it.
Lake Bluff Police Chief Matthew Smizinski refused to provide any details on the incident to Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
Smizinski said Tuesday the investigation remained open and involved juvenile suspects. “I am unable to share additional information,” he said.
It is unknown whether any of the suspects have been charged or whether the third suspect was arrested.