A woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison after she rammed a stolen car into police cars and dragged a police officer, leaving him injured, in Waukegan.
April M. Reins, 28, of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, was charged in January 2024 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.
The Waukegan Police Department responded to investigate a stolen vehicle around 10 a.m. on January 27, 2024, 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 last month 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.
The officers found the occupants were sleeping and 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.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Reins in the Lake County Jail and she has been held in custody since her arrest.
Court records show Reins entered into a negotiated plea deal with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office last month.
She pleaded guilty on February 6 to one count of aggravated battery to a peace officer, a Class 2 felony, and one count of aggravated driving under the influence, a Class 4 felony.
The rest of her charges in the case, as well as a second case in February 2024 where she was charged with attempted escape of a peace officer and resisting arrest, were dismissed.
Reins was sentenced to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) on the Class 2 felony charge and three years in the IDOC on the Class 4 felony charge.
The sentences will be served concurrently and she is receiving 377 days of credit for time spent in custody awaiting trial.
Reins is set to be paroled from the IDOC in January 2029.