Suspect Steals Sheriff's Squad Car in Dan Ryan Chase

Chicago police said four men tried to steal an ATM from a business in Gage Park on Saturday morning, then fled in a dark-colored Jeep before crashing near the Cook County Jail. The crash drew a Cook County sheriff's deputy who was patrolling the jail perimeter, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities said one of the men then pushed past the deputy, took the deputy's squad car and struck the deputy while driving away. Illinois State Police later stopped the stolen vehicle on the Dan Ryan Expressway and took the driver into custody, authorities said. ### Where did the chain of events begin? Chicago police said the first reported crime happened at about 7:14 or 7:15 a.m. in the 2800 block of West 55th Street in Gage Park, where four men in a dark-colored Jeep tried to remove an ATM from a business. ABC7 reported security video showed masked offenders inside the store trying to pry open the machine while a clerk called police. The Gage Park attempt was one of at least two ATM-related incidents under investigation Saturday, ABC7 reported, including an earlier theft at a gas station in the 7000 block of South Damen Avenue in West Englewood. Chicago police said the men in the Jeep fled the West 55th Street scene as officers arrived. (abc7chicago.com) ### How did a sheriff's deputy end up involved near the jail? The Cook County Sheriff's Office said the Jeep later crashed into another sport utility vehicle near South California Avenue and West 31st Street, close to the Cook County Jail. NBC Chicago reported the second vehicle was struck after the ATM attempt, and FOX 32 said the driver of that vehicle was a 65-year-old man. (abc7chicago.com) Around 7:30 a.m., the sheriff's office said, a deputy patrolling the jail perimeter stopped after seeing the crash. As the deputy got out of the patrol vehicle, the office said, four people ran from the scene. Three were arrested nearby, but one suspect pushed past the deputy and got into the squad car. (nbcchicago.com) ### What happened when the suspect took the squad car? The sheriff's office said the deputy tried to pull the suspect out of the vehicle, but the suspect drove away and struck the deputy. ABC7, NBC Chicago and FOX 32 each reported the deputy was taken to a hospital and later released after treatment for minor injuries. ABC7 identified the hospital as Saint Anthony Hospital. (abc7chicago.com) FOX 32 reported the stolen squad car was later found in the 7800 block of the northbound Dan Ryan Expressway after Illinois State Police apprehended the suspect. ABC7 said troopers used spike strips to stop the vehicle near 78th Street shortly before 8:30 a.m. (abc7chicago.com) ### Who was arrested, and what did police recover? Chicago police said the driver of the stolen squad car was taken into custody after the expressway chase. ABC7 reported the three other suspects were arrested near the crash scene by the jail. Authorities have not publicly identified the suspects in the reports reviewed. (abc7chicago.com) Three firearms were recovered, ABC7 and FOX 32 reported, citing police. The published reports did not specify on Saturday whether the guns were recovered from the crashed Jeep, the stolen squad car or another location tied to the arrests. ### Which agencies are handling the investigation now? (abc7chicago.com) Chicago police said Area One detectives are investigating the case. The Cook County Sheriff's Office provided details about the deputy's encounter near the jail, while Illinois State Police handled the apprehension on the Dan Ryan, according to the local reports. (abc7chicago.com) As of the latest reports published Saturday, authorities had not announced formal charges, named the suspect who drove the squad car or released additional details about the ATM investigation. The next public updates are likely to come from Chicago police, Illinois State Police or the Cook County Sheriff's Office as charges are filed or court records become available. (abc7chicago.com)