Charges have been announced against a man accused of robbing a store at gunpoint and then leading over two dozen police cars on a pursuit on Interstate 94 through Lake County that ended in Gurnee.
Norbert Thigpen, 36, of Burbank, was wanted in connection with an armed robbery that occurred around 5:30 p.m. Saturday at a CVS store near 87th Street and Cicero Avenue in Chicago, according to police radio traffic and officials.
The male suspect fired a single shot during the armed robbery, officers at the scene reported.
A tracker was placed with the stolen proceeds from the robbery and officers were able to track Thigpen in real-time.
Officers from the Justice Police Department attempted to stop the red 2021 Chevrolet Malibu on 79th Street but it fled from them.
A Chicago Police Department helicopter was called and began following the Chevrolet.
Officers attempted to stop the Chevrolet on northbound Interstate 294 near Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines around 6:25 p.m., according to police radio traffic.
The Illinois State Police began pursuing the vehicle after Thigpen failed to stop. The chase eventually entered Lake County on Interstate 94 around 6:40 p.m.
Troopers and officers attempted to use spike strips on the vehicle multiple times.
The Chevrolet hit the deployed spike strips on at least one of the attempts.
Officers in Kenosha County, Wisconsin were notified and stood by as the pursuit went through Lake County and approached the Illinois-Wisconsin border.
The Chevrolet turned around after crossing the state border and traveled back south on Interstate 94.
Troopers made several attempts to “pit” the Chevrolet but those failed, the officers reported on their radio.
Over 25 police cars were involved in the pursuit at one point, witnesses reported.
The pursuit came to an end around 7:20 p.m. on Interstate 94 near Milwaukee Avenue in Gurnee, which is just south of Six Flags Great America.
Officers arrested Thigpen and recovered a gun following the almost hour-long chase.
The Chicago Police Department announced Sunday that Thigpen was charged with two counts of armed robbery and one count of aggravated fleeing to elude.
Thigpen is scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court on Monday for a detention hearing.