Suspect Who Tried To Steal Gumball Machine Shot By Police
SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (STMW) - Police shot and wounded a burglary suspect who allegedly tried to run an officer over early Sunday in South Holland.
At 6:59 a.m., police responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the Taquitos Munoz restaurant, 251 W. 162nd St., and saw a white 1998 Jeep Carryall backed up to the front of the business according to a release from police.
Officers saw a front window broken out and the suspect, a 44-year-old Crete man, carrying a gumball machine from the business, the release said.
The suspect dropped the machine and ignored the officers' commands to stop before getting behind the wheel of the Jeep and allegedly driving into an officer's left leg while trying to flee, the relase said.
The officer fired six rounds into the vehicle at the suspect but the suspect fled westbound on 162nd Street, hitting a sign and a traffic control box.
The suspect then crashed the Jeep into a fence at 157th and Halsted in Harvey and tried to run away, but he was apprehended, the release said.
The suspect was shot in the right arm and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment. The officer was not seriously injured and was taken to a hospital for observation.
South Holland police asked for the help of the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit, to investigate the police shooting.
Charges are pending for the suspect.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
