Palatine police say a man physically assaulted a woman on Wednesday afternoon, then forced her back into a car after she tried to get help at a convenience store, touching off a police pursuit that ended in a crash on Chicago's South Side. A 23-year-old man was taken into custody after the vehicle struck a pole, and the investigation remains active.
According to ABC7 Chicago, Palatine officers responded around 2:15 p.m. to the 1500 block of North Winslowe Drive after receiving a report of a male physically assaulting a female. About 16 minutes later, around 2:31 p.m., officers received a second call reporting a disturbance in the 400 block of East Palatine Road. Police said the man and woman had reportedly left the area in a Nissan Sentra.
Woman Sought Help at a Convenience Store
Preliminary information and surveillance video reviewed by investigators indicated the woman got out of the vehicle at some point and ran inside a convenience store to ask for help. The station's report states that the man followed her into the store, grabbed her, and forced her back into the car before leaving the area with her still inside.
Palatine police shared information about the vehicle with surrounding law enforcement agencies, and it was eventually located in Chicago. As reported by WGN-TV, the police chase that followed began in Palatine before crossing into the city.
Pursuit Ends With a Crash in Englewood
The pursuit ended at about 4:26 p.m. when the vehicle struck a pole and came to a stop in the 700 block of West Garfield Boulevard, per the same account from ABC7 Chicago. The 23-year-old man was taken into custody following the crash, and the woman was found inside the car.
Authorities reported that the suspect was unharmed when taken into custody and that no other injuries were reported. Palatine police were identified as the lead agency in the case, with the Illinois State Police and the Chicago Police Department assisting during the pursuit.
Investigation Remains Active
No criminal charges had been filed as of publication, and Palatine police said the investigation remains active. The Palatine Police Department is encouraging anyone with information about the incidents to come forward, and can be reached at 847-359-9000.
