A man suspected in an attempted ATM theft allegedly stole a Cook County Sheriff’s squad car and struck a deputy with the vehicle before leading police on a chase along the Dan Ryan Expressway, authorities said Saturday.
Police said at around 7:14 a.m., four men in a dark-colored Jeep tried to remove an ATM from a business in the along West 55th Street near South California Avenue in Gage Park. The suspect’s vehicle later struck a second vehicle at West 31st Street and South California Avenue, near the Cook County Jail.
According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy patrolling the area stopped to help, and while exiting his patrol vehicle, saw four people fleeing the scene. One of the individuals pushed past and entered the squad car, while the deputy attempted to pull him from the vehicle.
The suspect then drove away, striking the deputy as he took off. The deputy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and later released.
Illinois State Police later apprehended the suspect following a pursuit along the Dan Ryan Expressway.
