River Forest Police End Chase After Driver of Stolen Vehicle Hits 60 MPH

River Forest police made the decision to end a high speed chase with the driver of a stolen vehicle around 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.

An officer on patrol in the 400 block of Lathrop on Saturday night was alerted when their cruiser's automated license plate reader alerted the officer of a car reported stolen in Melrose Park Jan. 25. The vehicle was described as a black, Ford 500 and was driven by an estimated 25-year-old male wearing a black and red jacket.

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The officer requested backup and an attempt was made to stop the vehicle at Harlem Avenue and Augusta.

Instead of stopping, the car reportedly jumped the curb, struck the front bumper of a River Forest police car and took off headed eastbound on Harlem Avenue.

James O'Shea, deputy chief of police, told Patch that officers pursed the car for about three blocks, until the driver of the stolen vehicle hit 60 mph in a 25-mph.

"The decision was made that it was unsafe to continue at that point," O'Shea said.

Police ended the chase there, and although the vehicle was reported seen briefly by Oak Park police around Augusta and Central in Chicago, the driver got away. Chicago police also checked the area, but the vehicle was not found.

O'Shea said a report regarding the stolen vehicle has been undated to reflect this information and dectectives are continuing to investigate.

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