A suspect wanted on warrants and driving a car linked to a home invasion led deputies on a nearly 20-minute chase through Waukegan before being arrested Thursday evening.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy was in the area of Greenwood Avenue and Sheridan Road in Waukegan when he received an alert from a FLOCK license plate reader, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The system flagged a Chevrolet Impala in the area that had been recently associated with a home invasion where a law enforcement alert was issued.
The vehicle’s registered owner, Alantae E. Cole, 35, of North Chicago, also had multiple outstanding arrest warrants, Covelli said.
A sheriff’s deputy spotted the 2018 Chevrolet Impala parked at the BP gas station at Sheridan Road and Greenwood Avenue in Waukegan.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said the vehicle had suspended registration and the deputy attempted a traffic stop.
Cole, who was the driver, refused to stop and increased his vehicle’s speed while driving through side streets attempting to evade police, McConnell said.
McConnell said Cole was driving 25 mph over the speed limit in a residential area at one point.
The pursuit lasted 17 minutes and the Chevrolet hit a curb, which caused one of the tires to deflate.
Covelli said Cole eventually turned from southbound Sheridan Road, onto eastbound Keith Avenue and then onto Circle Court where he reached a dead end.
Cole fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by sheriff’s deputies.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and he was charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing to elude, attempted fleeing to elude an officer, driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver, operator a motor vehicle with suspended registration, driving on the wrong side of the road, improper turn at an intersection, improper traffic lane usage and disregarding a traffic control device.
Court records show Cole has five other active cases besides his newest case that are pending in Lake County Circuit Court.
He was wanted at the time of the pursuit for a domestic battery and criminal trespass to residence incident that occurred on February 1 in Waukegan.
He was also wanted for a June 9, 2024, driving under the influence case where he allegedly fled from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
A third arrest warrant was also active for Cole for failing to appear in court in a Zion case where he is charged with obstructing identification.
The state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain him in one of the cases and a petition to revoke his pre-trial release in another case.
Lake County Judge Ruth Lofthouse on Friday morning ordered Cole held in the Lake County Jail until a detention hearing, which she scheduled for Friday afternoon.