Prosecutors say a man accelerated his vehicle directly at an officer who had his gun drawn in North Chicago and led police on two pursuits, one of which ended in Waukegan.
Deonis R. Howell, 44, of Waukegan, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer and aggravated fleeing to elude.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis said officers with the North Chicago Police Department were involved in a pursuit around 2:20 a.m. on November 13 with a Chrysler 300 registered to Howell.
The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns.
Officers later located the Chrysler unoccupied in the alley near 12th Street and Victoria Avenue in North Chicago.
Two other subjects, besides Howell, fled from the car and they were apprehended, Theis said.
Officers were walking back toward the Chrysler when they saw the vehicle leaving the alley and heading toward them.
Theis said an officer made eye contact with the driver, identified as Howell, and he accelerated the car at a high rate of speed.
Officers identified themselves and yelled for Howell to stop, Theis said. An officer drew their weapon toward the vehicle.
The officer was in the middle of the alleyway and was a couple of arm lengths away when the officer had to get out of the way to avoid being struck.
Theis said the Chrysler turned the corner so fast that the vehicle tipped sideways and almost rolled over.
The Chrysler disregarded multiple stop signs as it fled. Officers pursued the vehicle, which traveled at a high rate of speed, Theis said.
The Chrysler came to a stop in a driveway in the 1600 block of 10th Street in Waukegan.
Howell ran from the vehicle, which was also occupied by a female passenger, Theis said.
A canine unit was called and the canine tracked Howell to a residence.
Theis said officers spoke to Howell’s mother and she said the car was registered to her son. She let the officers inside to arrest her son after telling them he was in the basement.
Howell was on pre-trial release at the time of the incident for theft in Lake County and retail theft in Waukegan.
Attorney Jed Stone, who is representing Howell, said his client is addicted to crack cocaine and is afraid of the police.
“Of course they’re afraid of a police officer who pulls a gun and points it at them. Why that officer had his gun drawn I don’t know,” Stone said, adding that the man is the uncle of Justus Howell, who was shot and killed by police in Zion in April 2015.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted a petition to revoke Howell’s pre-trial release in one of his prior cases.
The judge said Howell has a history of failing to appear in court and comply with court orders.
Howell is scheduled to appear in court again on December 17 for a preliminary hearing.