Authorities say a man rammed a police squad car and led Wisconsin officers on a pursuit, which reached speeds of 100 mph, into Lake County that ended in Gurnee Friday morning.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers were notified around 3:40 a.m. Friday of a pursuit traveling from Wisconsin into Illinois.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the person being pursued was wanted for ramming a Pleasant Prairie police car.
Wisconsin law enforcement used spike strips in Wisconsin in an attempt to disable the offending vehicle.
One of the four tires was deflated but the driver continued fleeing at speeds of up to 100 mph, Covelli said.
The offender traveled southbound on Interstate 94 before going southbound on Route 41 into Illinois.
Lake County sheriff’s deputies responded and began clearing intersections so the offender did not strike and hurt any innocent bystanders, Covelli said.
Additional deputies were attempting to deploy spike strips further south on Route 41.
While deploying the stop strips, Wisconsin officers were able to box in the offending vehicle, forcing the driver to finally stop at Route 41 and Delany Road in Gurnee.
Covelli said the driver refused to provide his information after he was arrested.
He was transported to the Lake County Jail to be fingerprinted and held pending charges in Illinois and Wisconsin.
The suspect was later eventually identified as Jesus Catalan, 31, of Waukegan.
Catalan was charged in Lake County with obstructing justice, criminal damage to property, aggravated driving under the influence, aggravated fleeing to elude, reckless driving and driving with a suspended driver’s license.
He was also charged with fugitive from justice due to Kenosha County’s pending charges.
Catalan is scheduled to appear in First Appearance Court on Saturday morning.