K9 Simba Helps Track Down Man Accused In Possible Kidnapping

LAKE COU TY, IL — Lake County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man accused of possibly holding a woman against her will while fleeing police early Monday.

With the help from the Lake County Sheriff's Office's K9 Simba, police tracked down Aaron J. Kirksey after he abandoned his vehicle on Stearns School Road west of Route 41 and fled on foot, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

Police first began working to locate Kirkey after he fled a domestic-related dispute in Racine, Wisconsin, at about 1:10 a.m.Monday. Deputies in Lake County first spotted his vehicle on Route 41 and Wadsworth Road, according to the news release.

At that time, a deputy tried to pull him over but he fled, ran a red light and exceeded speeds or more than 100 mph, police said.

Once he fled on foot, K9 Simba and sheriff's office deputy Christopher Sinceno began tracking him and found him hiding in a nearby wooded area under some bushes. He was arrested, police said.

Meanwhile, a woman was rescued from the passenger seat of his vehicle. She was not injured, according to a news release.

Kirksey has been charged with aggravated fleeing to elude, aggravated speeding, reckless driving, and driving while license suspended and also was cited for numerous traffic violations.

An investigation is underway in Racine regarding criminal charges that could be filed there against Kirkey, police said. He was detained at the Lake County Jail and was expected to make an initial court appearance Monday morning.