Matteson Man On 'One Man Crime Spree' Ordered Detained For Dragging EP Cop: Judge

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — A Matteson man is accused of dragging an Evergreen Park police officer through a strip mall parking lot in an attempt to flee arrest, prosecutors said. Darnell Stevenson, 25, appeared Friday before Cook County Judge William McKay on a felony charge of aggravated resisting/obstructing a police officer, with other charges likely to be added.

Just before 8 p.m. Aug. 27, Evergreen Park police got an alert from license plate readers on a 2021 Kia sedan tied to an alleged fleeing and eluding of police in Posen. An officer on patrol spotted the vehicle parked at a strip mall in the 9500 block of South Western Avenue.

A man, later identified as Stevenson,, came out of the store, the prosecutor said. When the officer ordered him to stop, the prosecutor said Stevenson ignored him and continued to the Kia. The officer leaned through the open door to prevent Stevenson from leaving, who backed up into a grassy area, dragging the officer several feet, the prosecutor said.

The officer was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center for treatment of bruises and back pain.

The Kia was later found abandoned. The prosecutor said the officer identified Stevenson as the suspect.

Stevenson is also suspected of ramming into a DEA agent’s vehicle – injuring the agent – in another attempt to elude arrest earlier this year in Alsip, the prosecutor said. He has not been charged in the Posen or Alsip incidents.

Evergreen Park police obtained an arrest warrant on Sept. 3. Stevenson was taken into custody on Sept. 17.

Stevenson currently has a pending armed habitual offender case, when he and another person were arrested March 10 outside of Orland Square Mall. According to an Orland Park police report, officers recovered a .40 caliber firearm with an attached laser sight and loaded magazine, 7.5 ounces of cannabis and black market opiate pain pills, the prosecutor said.

Court records show that Stevenson failed to appear in court for a hearing on his Orland Park case.

“The defendant had fled and eluded arrest three times, twice with injuring police officers,” the prosecutor said. “He is a real and present threat … An officer of the law was dragged by his vehicle.”

Stevenson’s attorney, appearing via Zoom, told the judge that his client’s family was in court to support him. He described Stevenson as gainfully employed with a stable residence. The attorney asked for strict pre-trial conditions, including electronic monitoring.

“Pre-trial is designed not punish people,” Stevenson’s attorney said.

The judge ordered Stevenson to be detained in Cook County Jail while his case is pending, with the opportunity to appeal his ruling.

“The defendant appears to be on a one-man crime spree,” Judge McKay said.