Inside the harrowing 100-mile police chase in Sangamon County | News

When Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Pearce noticed a white pickup noticed outdoors a motorbike store that had been burglarized earlier that evening, he punched the fuel and chased the fleeing truck, reaching race automotive speeds and screeching his tires by hairpin turns.

Sgt. James Hayes, his supervisor, requested whether or not he had sufficient fuel.

“I acquired a full tank, child,” Pearce stated on a dispatcher’s recorded line.

Hayes OK’d the chase. Because it turned out, he would wish all that fuel.

The chase examined the boundaries — not solely Pearce’s driving talents, his cruiser’s efficiency and Hayes’ supervisory expertise in making certain his officers act underneath coverage, however the limits of newly appointed Sheriff Paula Crouch to implement these insurance policies.

Capitol Information Illinois first reported on the pursuit in September, however the Sheriff’s Division launched scant particulars. CNI filed a Freedom of Info Act request to overview police studies, dispatch data, and dashcam video of the pursuit, however the request was denied. CNI then filed a lawsuit in opposition to Sangamon County to get entry to the data. Afterward, the county relented.

The data confirmed a pursuit that clocked triple-digit speeds, winding by downtown streets, previous metropolis parks, neighborhoods lined with million-dollar houses, golf programs, on nation roads, down a significant interstate, over railroad crossings, throughout slender bridges and even previous two native police stations.

The pursuit that averaged 100 mph at occasions ended greater than 100 miles from the place it began with a person, later recognized as suspect Kirtis Davenport, barely respiration on the facet of a black-topped nation highway. Davenport, police stated, fell from the mattress of the rushing truck because it made a pointy flip. The driving force stored going.
“If you end up on a pursuit, your adrenaline is pumping. You’re flying. The lights and sirens are going. You’re multitasking — utilizing the radio to ship your location, replace the dispatchers and supervisor, maintaining a tally of the highway, watching your topic,” Christopher Burbank, a former police chief who now serves as a advisor for the Heart for Policing Fairness, advised Capitol Information Illinois.

The U.S. Justice Division referred to as vehicular pursuits “probably the most harmful of all abnormal police actions.” In line with a research by the Police Government Analysis Discussion board, 4,415 folks died throughout a police pursuit from 2017 to 2021.

In 2023, the Illinois State Police annual report on police pursuits contained 1,023 studies of chases, up from 834 in 2022. The report discovered that the typical pursuit lasted underneath 5 minutes with a median legislation enforcement pace of almost 80 mph. The pursuits resulted in 131 crashes.

What’s notable in regards to the Sangamon County pursuit is the period, Burbank stated. In actual fact, it is without doubt one of the longest he can recall. Unpredictable drivers, wildlife, unfamiliar roads, excessive speeds, and adrenaline compounded the hazard, Burbank stated.

Sangamon County Sheriff’s Workplace engaged in 11 pursuits within the final 5 years, not counting the 100-mile pursuit, in line with data from the Illinois Legislation Enforcement Coaching and Normal Board. The company requires police to submit a report for all pursuits.

Of the 11 beforehand submitted studies, the longest Sangamon County Sheriff’s Workplace pursuit was 20 miles at speeds of greater than 105 mph. Pearce traveled 5 occasions that distance at speeds that topped 110 mph.

Police initiated most of the pursuits for property crimes, resembling possession of a stolen automobile or housebreaking, or visitors violations. Two pursuits had been initiated for violent felonies — armed theft and murder. 4 gave the rationale for the pursuit as a felony with no additional particulars.

Within the Pearce pursuit, it began with a housebreaking name.

Particulars of the chase

The decision got here in simply earlier than midnight Sept. 21 as an alarm at an area motorbike dealership.

Hayes and Pearce responded and located the entrance door smashed. A witness reported seeing a brand new, white Dodge pickup truck pulling a field trailer.

Virtually an hour later, a Dodge Ram pickup truck was noticed — and not using a trailer, however two grime bikes within the mattress. Pearson tried to cease him, however the driver fled.

The pursuit wound south, then west by Springfield, dropped south at Washington Park and thru Leland Grove. Hayes, the sergeant who approved the chase, by now had joined in and tried to place up cease sticks — hole spikes that flatten the tires of vehicles that drive over them — at South Grand and 11^th streets however was unable to get them arrange earlier than the vehicles handed.

In Leland Grove, a metropolis adjoining to Springfield, the pickup turned down a dead-end highway, then turning round and heading straight for the squad automotive.

About 5 minutes later, on the northern fringe of Springfield, the pickup — adopted by Pearce — turned south within the northbound lanes of Veteran’s Parkway, a significant state freeway, for 2 miles earlier than entering into the southbound lane.

The pursuit left Springfield, to Riddle Hill, Berlin, New Berlin, Maxwell, Auburn, Divernon, Waverly. North of Loami, Pearce reported to dispatch that objects had been being tossed onto the highway at him. His automotive was hit by a flying wrench. The chase continued south on Interstate 55.

The written assertion added ISP wouldn’t advise different companies to terminate a pursuit acknowledging that they function in line with their very own insurance policies and procedures.

The pickup and the pursuing squad automotive traveled at 106 mph by a development zone, simply north of Litchfield.

On the Litchfield exit, the motive force was capable of keep away from cease sticks. The truck traveled east into downtown Litchfield to State Avenue the place it turned and headed south out of city.

Hayes stopped chasing. He was miles away from Sangamon County and low on fuel, he wrote in his report.

Pearce’s radio sign minimize out, in line with the dispatch recordings, however he continued to pursue, touring south, skirting Staunton and Williamson.

“Piece of s— radio,” Pearce stated.

The pursuit continued down darkened rural roads, flanked on both facet by cornfields that will have obstructed vehicles coming into intersections, then over a excessive railroad bridge that ends in T highway. The truck made the sharp flip and so did Pearce, however on his bodycam video his headlights caught one thing on the gravel shoulder.

“Oh s—! Oh s—! I feel somebody simply fell out of the truck. … Rattling it!” Pearce stated.

Pearce ended the chase to render assist. The bodycam video confirmed Pearce approaching the person, who was on the shoulder barely respiration. The truck stored going, and Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies continued to chase, however they overlooked the fleeing truck and gave up.

After Pearce referred to as for an ambulance, deputies who had joined the chase started to offer first assist.

Later, they discovered a pockets with three unscratched Missouri lottery tickets, 5 milligrams of methamphetamine, and $122 in money. The person had no identification, solely a tattoo that stated “Davenport” throughout his stomach.

The chase took simply over an hour — a route that will take two hours in regular visitors and following the pace limits.

The person on the highway was airlifted to St. Louis College Hospital with life-threatening accidents. He had sustained extreme head accidents. Police later recognized him by his fingerprints as Kirtis Davenport, 43, of Kansas Metropolis. Davenport was on federal parole for theft. When he was arrested at a Kansas automotive wash for that case, court docket data said he was carrying a loaded 9 mm handgun.

Police discovered the 2022 Dodge Ram truck reported stolen out of Kansas with stolen Missouri plates deserted six miles south on a avenue within the Madison County city of Livingston. Inside, they discovered weapons, together with a stolen handgun, and ammunition. Two new grime bikes had been nonetheless within the truck mattress.

In addition they discovered a mobile phone underneath the passenger seat belonging to Davenport. The automobile pursuit had ended, however the pursuit of the motive force was simply starting.

Digital detective work

A search of Davenport’s cellphone turned up photos of bikes from contained in the dealership on Sept. 19 — three days earlier than the housebreaking, in line with a mobile information evaluation report by Sangamon County Sheriff’s detectives.

The digital evaluation of the cellphone additionally turned up Fb messages with a Kansas man named Ryan O’Neal, a former motocross rider, identified to native police to steal bikes and promote them to assist his narcotics behavior, the report stated.

O’Neal and Davenport had been suspected of the same housebreaking in Olathe, Kansas, six weeks earlier, in line with a Sangamon County report documenting a dialog with Kansas police.

The digital path confirmed O’Neal’s and Davenport’s telephones stayed collectively from Kansas to central Illinois. Police pulled surveillance video at a New Berlin fuel station. In that video, Davenport makes use of the lavatory and buys a hooded sweatshirt. They might additionally see one other man with him placing fuel in a white, Dodge Ram pickup, pulling an enclosed trailer.

The path would later put them on the parking zone of a Springfield resort for an hour after the heist. Staff would later say the trailer, with two flat tires, was picked up by one other truck and hauled away.

Cellphone evaluation confirmed their telephones had been collectively throughout the pursuit. After he fell out of the truck Davenport’s cellphone stayed with the truck till it was towed again to Sangamon County. O’Neal’s cellphone went south and stopped in Livingston, made requires a time, then headed north, stopped, then continued additional north to O’Hare Airport in Chicago, then later to Kansas Metropolis.

O’Neal had gotten away for the second.

After 4 days in important situation on the St. Louis hospital, Davenport died. His organs had been donated, in line with his household’s needs.

Prosecutors issued a warrant for O’Neal on Oct. 17.  He was nonetheless on the lam.

It was late November when federal marshals arrested O’Neal in Kansas. He was extradited to Sangamon County to reply the costs. Beneath the SAFE-T Act, an Illinois choose discovered that the costs didn’t meet the authorized {qualifications} for O’Neal to be detained till trial. Over prosecutors’ objections, he was launched.

O’Neal couldn’t be reached for remark. His subsequent court docket look is scheduled for April 21.

Aftermath of the pursuit

On the time of the pursuit, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Division was underneath scrutiny after the officer-involved deadly capturing of an unarmed Black lady in her kitchen after calling to report a prowler outdoors her house.

Deputy Sean Grayson was charged with homicide, aggravated battery and official misconduct for the capturing of Sonya Massey on July 6.

Massey’s loss of life introduced a civil rights probe by the U.S. Justice Division. It additionally launched a wrongful loss of life go well with by Massey’s household that not too long ago resulted in a $10 million settlement.

There have been widespread requires reform, together with from Gov. JB Pritzker, and for then-Sheriff Jack Campbell’s resignation. Campbell introduced his retirement efficient Aug. 31.

Three weeks later, Pearce and Hayes had been concerned in a high-speed, multi-jurisdictional pursuit of this Dodge Ram they suspected of being concerned in a housebreaking, a violation sometimes thought of a property crime.

Because of the inherent dangers, every legislation enforcement company adopts their very own insurance policies to set forth guidelines relating to police pursuits. The Illinois State Police, who’ve patrol items that work the interstates, didn’t take part within the pursuit, stating it did meet their coverage necessities, a state police spokesperson stated.

As a precaution, troopers had been reminded over the radio that permission was not granted to get entangled within the pursuit, a state police spokesperson stated.

Sangamon County Sheriff Workplace’s pursuit coverage is 16 pages and units out how and when to pursue a fleeing automobile, when it ought to finish, and delegates accountability for assessing danger between the deputy and his supervisor.

The insurance policies, obtained by Capitol Information Illinois, state that deputies shouldn’t pursue a automobile solely for property crimes and non-forcible felonies.

Such insurance policies are meant to guard the officer and the general public, Burbank stated, and have been adopted by police departments and sheriff workplaces across the nation.

However the ISP report on pursuits discovered that the highest causes for initiating police pursuits are overwhelmingly minor visitors violations, adopted by suspected stolen automobiles.

Sangamon County’s pursuit coverage additionally states that if a pursuit leaves the jurisdiction, the supervisor ought to resolve whether or not to proceed, based mostly on the circumstances. The police chase traveled by at the least seven totally different jurisdictions, together with Springfield, Litchfield and Leland Grove, in addition to Montgomery, Macoupin and Madison counties.

Ten days earlier than the chase, Hayes, the supervisor who approved the pursuit, had notified the sheriff’s workplace that he meant to retire, efficient Oct. 2. Hayes submitted that discover simply two weeks after former Sheriff Jack Campbell retired.

Crouch, who had been on the job for 2 days when the chase occurred, positioned Pearce and Hayes on paid administrative go away till an inner investigation was accomplished.

Crouch advisable a two-day unpaid suspension for Hayes and Pearce. With the interior affairs investigation pending, Hayes pulled again his retirement. In December, he gave discover on Dec. 9 that he would start his retirement two days later.

Hayes, whose annual wage in 2023 was $122,000, and Pearce, who acquired $55,000, filed a grievance with their police union difficult the self-discipline, Crouch stated, stating that housebreaking is a forcible felony. Crouch confirmed that grievance remains to be pending.  Tamara Cummings, Normal Counsel for the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, declined to remark, citing pending litigation.

Capitol Information Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan information service that distributes state authorities protection to a whole lot of stories retailers statewide. It’s funded primarily by the Illinois Press Basis and the Robert R. McCormick Basis.