A stolen vehicle report in Freeport late Wednesday night escalated into a high-speed pursuit and shootout that left multiple police officers and the suspect injured, according to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Department.
The incident began around 10:19 p.m. when a Freeport police officer attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle. The driver refused to stop, nearly striking a squad car and another vehicle while fleeing the scene. The officer lost sight of the suspect, but the vehicle was later spotted by Jo Daviess County deputies in Hanover, about 42 miles away. Deputies engaged in a pursuit, but the suspect managed to escape once again.
At approximately 3:40 a.m. Thursday, police located the suspect vehicle in Savanna, roughly 13 miles from Hanover. Another pursuit began, during which the suspect rammed a squad car, disabling it. Minutes later, at 3:45 a.m., shots were fired, followed by additional gunfire at 3:48 a.m. as officers and deputies from Carroll County, the Savanna Police Department, and Mount Carroll Police joined the chase.
The pursuit came to a violent end at 3:49 a.m. when the suspect crashed into a Mount Carroll Police Department squad car at the intersection of Chicago Street and Park Street in Savanna. As officers closed in, more shots were exchanged, prompting ambulances to be called to the scene.
Authorities confirmed that multiple officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to local hospitals. The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was airlifted to a regional hospital and is listed in stable condition.
The Illinois State Police have taken over the investigation due to the officer-involved shooting. Further details, including the suspect’s identity and potential charges, have not yet been released.
