A female jail inmate transported to the sheriff’s headquarters in Waukegan attempted to escape by climbing into the ceiling after arriving for an interview with detectives, officials said.
April M. Reins, 27, of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, was transported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (CID) on February 22.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said detectives wanted to speak with Reins, who was in the custody of the Lake County Jail on unrelated charges.
While at CID, Reins said she had to use the bathroom.
Covelli said the woman climbed into the ceiling in an attempt to escape to a stairwell.
Reins was pulled out of the ceiling by detectives. Covelli said a sheriff’s sergeant injured his hand in the incident and required medical treatment.
Reins was charged with attempted escape, criminal damage to state-supported property and resisting arrest causing injury.
The woman remains held in the Lake County Jail, including for a case where she was accused of ramming a stolen car into police cars and dragging an officer, leaving him injured in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Police Department responded to investigate a stolen vehicle around 10 a.m. on January 27 at the Starbucks, 3300 Grand Avenue.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd said the 911 caller, a family member of the owner of the car, reported the Hyundai Elantra was located occupied in the parking lot.
The car was stolen from Gurnee in December and had stolen license plates on it, Shepherd said. The victim arrived and confirmed it was his car.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain said officers approached the vehicle and found the occupants were sleeping. An officer opened the door.
The vehicle, driven by Reins, attempted to drive away and struck several vehicles, including two police squad cars.
The male passenger of the vehicle attempted to run away on foot and officers gave chase, Chastain said.
As the passenger fled, Reins struck an officer with the open passenger car door while continuing to try and drive away, Shepherd said.
Shepherd said the police sergeant got trapped and dragged by the open car door.
The officer was knocked to the ground and was injured, Chastain said.
A second officer grabbed the police sergeant and pulled him away to avoid being run over by the suspect vehicle.
Shepherd said the officer suffered a broken rib and abrasions to the arm, hip and shoulders.
Other officers had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by the car.
Reins and the male suspect were eventually taken into custody and were believed to be overdosing after having just injected drugs.
The Waukegan Fire Department responded to the scene with three ambulances.
Shepherd said Reins told paramedics she had taken cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
Reins and the male passenger were transported to an area hospital to be treated for the overdose, Chastain said.
The officer injured was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for treatment.
Reins was charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a peace officer, aggravated battery of a peace officer, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, three counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer, criminal damage to property, two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, driving under the influence of a drug, improper use of registration or tile, reckless driving, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and driving without a license.
During a detention hearing last month, Lake County Judge Ari Fisz said Reins was “lucky she didn’t kill him,” referring to the injured police sergeant. “The defendant is a danger to everyone in the community,” Fisz added.
She is scheduled to appear in court next on April 22.