A Fox Lake man has been sentenced to five years in prison for a police pursuit that began in Spring Grove with the man crashing into a squad car before the chase ended in Waukegan.
Brandon Vice, 36, of Fox Lake, was charged in December 2022 with possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of aggravated fleeing to elude, driving on a revoked or suspended driver’s license, five counts of unauthorized possession of a license plate, possession of burglary tools and reckless driving.
A Spring Grove police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop around 12:30 a.m. on November 26, 2022, in Spring Grove, according to Spring Grove Police Chief Michael Niedzwiecki.
Officers were attempting to stop a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup truck because it was reported as stolen.
Officers originally attempted to stop the Ford and its driver on State Park Road near Route 12.
The driver failed to stop for officers and subsequently struck a Spring Grove police squad while attempting to flee, Niedzwiecki said.
The driver and vehicle led officers on a chase that went into Wisconsin and entered Lake County.
Officers deployed spike strips on the Ford and the chase ended in Waukegan near Leith Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.
The driver fled on foot after the Ford was rendered inoperable, Niedzwiecki said.
Officers detained an occupant of the vehicle, who was believed to be a passenger, according to police radio traffic.
Canine units responded but the driver of the vehicle was able to successfully flee.
Prosecutors said law enforcement identified Vice after collecting eyewitness statements along with social media records.
Vice was arrested by the Park City Police Department days after the pursuit.
Police received an anonymous tip of a stolen tan-colored Ford pickup truck, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lillian Lewis said at the time.
Officers located the truck and obtained surveillance video of Vice allegedly exiting the truck and entering an apartment.
The truck had its ignition tampered with, Lewis said. Vice was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
Vice was also wanted in numerous jurisdictions throughout Lake County and McHenry County on various different criminal offenses.
Court records show Vice recently entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office for the Spring Grove pursuit.
He pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated fleeing to elude, a Class 4 felony.
The rest of the charges in the case were dismissed and charges in two other McHenry County cases were also dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis sentenced Vice pursuant to the plea to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the stolen vehicle charge and three years on the aggravated fleeing charge.
The sentences will be served concurrently at 50% in accordance with truth-in-sentencing guidelines.
Vice will receive 399 days of credit for time served in custody, 60 days of credit for a pre-trial program completed and 149 days of credit for self-improvement, volunteer or work assignments.