Reckless Driver On Drugs Flees From Police, Crashes: Plainfield Cops

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Dixon man is facing multiple charges after he was reported driving recklessly while on drugs Aug. 7 before fleeing from police and later crashing, Plainfield police said.

Officers were called at about 4:09 a.m. to Lockport Street and Drauden Road after someone reported a silver Ford Edge was "driving on the rim and swerving all over the road," Cmdr. Anthony Novak told Patch.

An officer soon saw the SUV driving east on Lockport Street and attempted to pull over the driver, later identified as Christopher Owens, of the 1700 block of West Fourth Street in Dixon, by activating emergency lights.

"The vehicle committed several traffic violations and began to flee from the officer at a high rate of speed, at which time the officer deactivated the emergency equipment," Novak said.

Another officer later discovered the car, disabled due to a suspected crash, at the intersection of Route 59 and Lockport Street and saw Owens, 33, fleeing on foot. Novak said police believe the car was involved in a crash due to visible damage, though no other vehicles were involved or located.

The crash "may have occurred elsewhere and the vehicle became inoperable or the driver just simply abandoned it," the commander said.

Officers caught up to the man and made several observations — "physical characteristics as well as a self-admitted statement," Novak said — that led them to believe he was under the influence of drugs.

Police called an ambulance to the scene "due to Christopher's condition" and reported injury. Paramedics arrived, evaluated the driver and took him to Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

Owens was charged with the following offenses, issued a notice to appear in court and released from custody:

• Improper lane usage
• Operating an uninsured motor vehicle
• Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident
• Aggravated fleeing and eluding
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Aggravated driving under the influence
• Disobey traffic control signal
• Operating a vehicle with unsafe tires

Novak said Owens might also be charged with possession of a stolen vehicle after police determined the car he was driving had been stolen, although it had not yet been reported stolen at the time of the crash.