Prosecutors say a man fled from police officers by vehicle twice before eventually crashing into a tree in Gurnee and running away on foot while fleeing the second time.
Stephen T. Hood, 32, of Zion, was charged with two counts of fleeing to elude an officer, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting a peace officer, reckless driving, driving on a revoked license, obstructing identification, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon said a traffic stop was conducted by the Gurnee Police Department on March 31.
The vehicle had a suspended registration and the Hood was identified as the driver, Cannon said.
Cannon said Hood fled from the stop and a chase ensued with the driver disobeying a red light and pulling into a business parking lot where he cut through the grass to elude the officer.
An officer approximately 20 minutes later spotted the vehicle on the highway and attempted to make a traffic stop.
Hood refused to stop and a pursuit ensued with the man taking the exit to eastbound Grand Avenue, Cannon said.
The vehicle jumped the median and crashed into a tree. Hood was ordered to stop but fled on foot with a bag.
Officers caught Hood and arrested him. He had dropped the bag, which contained amphetamine pills and black tar gummies suspected to be fentanyl, Cannon said.
The charges against Hood are non-detainable and he was released following a First Appearance Court hearing.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim placed Hood on Level 3 pre-trial services monitoring, ordered him not to drive without a license, ordered him to undergo random drug and alcohol screenings and ordered him not to possess weapons.
Hood was briefly held in the Lake County Jail and transferred to Cook County on a warrant.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on April 29 for a status of preliminary hearing.