Police Chase From Matteson To Tinley Ends Without Arrest

TINLEY PARK, IL — A slow chase that led police following a car Tuesday from Matteson to the site of Tinley Park’s Cruise Night ended without injury and without an arrest, authorities said.

According to Tinley Park police, the driver, who was a man in his 60s, was suffering from a possible mental illness and was suicidal. The man, who has not been named, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police said the man began his journey in the late afternoon in Matteson, where he rammed a village squad car. He fled the scene as officers continued to pursue him. It was not known where he was going.

But as he neared Tinley Park, authorities ushered people who were attending Cruise Night, a popular car show, from the streets to the downtown-area sidewalks. Cruise Night draws crowds of people to Oak Park Avenue from 171st Street and 173rd Place from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday nights in the summer. Police then created a blockade around the area so the driver could not get near the show.

“He was not getting anywhere near that car show,” said Tinley Park Sergeant Pat St. John. "We were going to do anything it took to keep him out of that car show."

He said that authorities were able to navigate him northbound on Oak Park Avenue, from which he eventually turned onto South Street. He was unable to escape from that section of the blockade on or near train tracks.

Resident Scott Boat said that he saw a white car coming over the tracks at about 20 to 30 miles an hour heading north on 66th Court. The car was being followed by an unmarked squad car and several Matteson and Tinley squads.

"We heard the sirens heading towards Oak Park Avenue, but about a minute later, I heard them heading back," he said.

Boat said the driver of the white car then slowly came back heading east on 173rd Street. He then made the right on to 66th Court going south.

"When he got to the tracks, he stopped and tried to make a right onto the tracks where he got the car stuck, and that’s when the police boxed him in," Boat said.

St. John referred all other questions to Matteson police, who have jurisdiction over the case. An officer in charge Wednesday said she had no further information and transferred requests for comment to Matteson’s administrative office. The office was closed for the night.