A man who fled a traffic stop in his bare feet this morning was arrested 10 hours later when he was caught trying to swim across the Cal-Sag Channel, police said.
Michael Kelly, 26, of the 10900 block of Lloyd Avenue in Worth, was charged with felony driving on a revoked license, obstruction of justice and numerous traffic offenses.
Kelly was pulled over by police about 3 a.m. near 123rd Street and 70th Avenue in Palos Heights. During the stop, Kelly fled, leaving behind his sandals in the vehicle he was driving, which belonged to a friend, Palos Heights Sgt. Jeff Marren said.
Officers ran after Kelly through several yards along residential streets while other authorities set up a perimeter. Police from Crestwood, Chicago Ridge, Palos Park, Palos Hills and Worth joined the search, which included a police dog from Willow Springs.
Authorities said they devoted multiple resources to the chase because they weren’t sure who was fleeing or why, and they didn’t know if he was a danger to the community.
The search was called off after 90 minutes when officers found no sign of Kelly, but authorities resumed the hunt about 6 a.m., when a witness spotted Kelly walking along the 12200 block of 70th Avenue in Palos Heights. After two hours, the search again was halted, authorities said.
Early this afternoon, Marren was patrolling the area near Harlem Avenue and College Drive when another sighting of Kelly was called in to the dispatch center. Marren said he spotted Kelly near a bike path along the Cal-Sag Channel.
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When Kelly saw Marren, he allegedly jumped into the channel to swim to the other side near the Worth water treatment plant where officers were waiting to fish him out. He was apprehended shortly after 1 p.m.
Kelly was taken to Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights because of minor cuts, abrasions and exhaustion before being taken to the Palos Heights police station.
He is scheduled to appear at a bond hearing Wednesday in Bridgeview.