A parolee driving a stolen vehicle crashed into a police squad and led sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit in Lake County that ended in a crash near Gurnee Wednesday evening.
Lake County sheriff’s deputies spotted a stolen Chevrolet Avalanche around 10 p.m. Wednesday at a gas station in the 13900 block of West Yorkhouse Road in unincorporated Waukegan.
The stolen Chevrolet had fled from deputies the night prior, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Deputies approached the vehicle, which was parked near a gas pump.
The driver, William J. Neely, 26, who has no permanent address, reversed the Chevrolet into a squad car, disabling it, and then fled, Covelli said.
Another deputy located the Chevrolet in the area of Sandy Court and McCarthy Road in Wadsworth.
Sheriff’s deputies attempted a traffic stop but Neely fled again and was pursued westbound on several roads toward Lindenhurst, Covelli said.
A sheriff’s deputy was able to set up a vehicle-stopping device near Route 45 and Stearns School Road in Lindenhurst.
Neely struck the device and his tires became deflated.
Covelli said Neely turned eastbound on Stearns School Road, began swerving and crashed into the ditch near Stearns School Road and Mill Creek Drive in unincorporated Gurnee.
He was taken into custody without further incident.
A passenger in Neely’s vehicle, Kristen M. Brennan, 34, of Antioch, was arrested for two outstanding McHenry County warrants and a parole violation warrant from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
Neely was transported to an area hospital where he was evaluated for injuries and released back into custody, Covelli said.
The Chevrolet and a trailer it was towing were both confirmed to be stolen.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charges of two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding and reckless driving.
Neely was sentenced in April 2023 to two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for aggravated fleeing to elude police in both Round Lake and Round Lake Beach in January 2023.
Covelli said notification is being made to the Illinois Department of Corrections regarding the parole violation following Neely’s latest arrest.