Driver Strikes Squad Car, Leads Cops On High-Speed Chase, Police Say

LAKE BLUFF, IL — Police said a North Chicago man nearly struck a trio of Lake Bluff police officers as he fled a traffic stop, leading officers on a high-speed chase before crashing into a snow bank and running into the Great Lakes naval base.

Luchiano Salgado, 19, of the 1400 block of 20th Street, was arrested by Great Lake police and charged with three felony counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding police, along with a half-dozen traffic offenses.

Officers spotted a BMW sedan slowly driving south through Lake Bluff with its lights off around 1 a.m. on Jan. 31 and pulled it over on Simpson Avenue, just south of East Center Avenue, according to police reports.

During the traffic stop, dispatchers notified officers that a resident had called 911 to report that two men or boys in a "little black car" matching the description of the BMW had been spotted going into a Land Rover parked in a nearby driveway, police said.

An officer then placed immobilizing spike strips under the car and notified Salgado, its driver, that if he moved the car he would run them over.

Police said Salgado became increasingly nervous and defensive, and after officers asked about the reports of prowlers in the area, he put the car in reverse and rolled over the spike strip and into the front end of a squad car.

Officers ordered Salgado to stop, but he shifted into drive, rolled over the spike strips again and nearly struck the officers who had been standing on either side of the car, police reported.

The BMW sped away north on Sheridan, reaching speeds of more than 100 MPH as police gave chase. Salgado was able to gain some distance from the pursuing officers before crashing into a snow bank as he tried to turn onto Buckley Road.

The passenger, a 21-year-old North Chicago man, remained in the car after the crash. He was taken into custody and charged with a misdemeanor cannabis offense before being released on his own recognizance, according to police reports.

After Salgado fled on foot into Naval Station Great Lakes, Lake Bluff police were assisted by officers from the Great Lakes, North Chicago and Lake Forest police departments, including a police dog from North Chicago and an unmanned aerial vehicle operated by Lake Forest police.

Salgado was taken into custody around 2 a.m., wet and freezing from the snow, police reported. After his condition was evaluated, he was taken to the Lake Bluff police station for questioning.

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Police reported he waived his constitutional right against self-incrimination before speaking to officers and explaining that he had pulled over because he was lost and forgotten to turn his headlights back on.

Salgado said he had multiple negative encounters with the Zion Police Department during traffic stops and said he had been "freaked out" during the encounter with officers, police reported. Salgado also claimed he blacked out right before fleeing until the time he surrendered to police on the Navy base.

Lake Bluff police said they are still investigating the incident and encouraged anyone with any knowledge of criminal activity or security camera footage of suspicious activity on the night of Jan. 30 or the early morning hours of Jan. 31 to contact police.

Salgado posted the $10,000 cash portion of his bond on Feb. 2 to secure his pretrial release. He is due back in court March 2 for a preliminary hearing.