Armed Driver Hijacked Woman's Car After Ramming State Trooper On Stevenson: ISP

CHICAGO, IL — A 26-year-old Chicago man accused of ramming an Illinois State Police cruiser on the Stevenson Expressway before using a gun to carjack another car in August was arrested last week. Cassidy D. Pettis, 26, of Chicago, is charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking, a Class X felony, in last month's incident, according to Illinois State Police. He's been ordered held without bail as local authorities continue to investigate other crimes Pettis is suspected in and decide whether to file additional charges, the ISP said in a statement Monday.

According to state police, a trooper noticed Pettis driving a red Volkswagen on the shoulder of the Stevenson Expressway and exiting at Damen Avenue at about 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 25. The trooper tried to pull over Pettis, but the driver allegedly made an abrupt turn and ran into the ISP squad car, state police said.

Pettis fled the scene in his Volkswagen, jumping back on the Stevenson and heading north, police said. He eventually forced another vehicle to stop as he neared the ramp to the Dan Ryan Expressway, according to police. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for the West Side and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

With both vehicles stopped, Pettis exited the Volkswagen, walked up to the car he had pulled over and allegedly flashed a handgun at the woman behind the wheel before using it to smash a window, state police said. The woman fled the car, and Pettis escaped in her vehicle, according to the ISP.

After an investigation by state police and other law enforcement agencies, including the Chicago Police Department, an arrest warrant was issued for Pettis on Wednesday, Sept. 13. State troopers arrested Cassidy on Thursday.

"Today the Illinois State Police, in cooperation with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Chicago Police Department, and other local law enforcement partners, have arrested a violent offender who committed a gun crime on our expressways," Illinois State Police Director Leo Schmitz said in a statement. "The ISP will continue to pursue violent offenders who seek to do our citizen's harm. If you commit a gun crime on the expressways of Illinois, you will be arrested and brought to justice."

Cassidy D. Pettis, 26 (Photo via Illinois State Police)

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Check out the Events Calendar for what’s going on