Evanston police officers pursued a suspect in a stolen car investigation from the Target store on Howard Street to James Park last week, calling in a canine team and Chicago helicopter unit to assist in their search.
The incident, which played out over an hour and half Wednesday started when members of the department’s tactical unit conducted a traffic stop at about 9 p.m. on a vehicle in the Jewel parking lot in the 2400 block of Howard Street, said Commander Joseph Dugan, department spokesperson.
The vehicle, which was occupied by a male driver and female passenger, initially stopped, Dugan said, but when the officers exited their squad car, the vehicle took off to the rear of the Target store where the occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
A computer check of the vehicle revealed it to have been reported stolen out of Robbins and further advised that at the time of theft, there was a firearm inside the vehicle, Dugan said.
The female passenger, 19, and a resident of Chicago, was located hiding in bushes near the vehicle, he said.
Officers checked the vehicle for the firearm that was reported to be inside at the time of the theft, but did not locate it, he said.
Because of the possibility of a firearm, police took special precaution, Dugan said.
The Evanston police canine tracked a scent from the vehicle to James Park, in the 300 block of Dodge Avenue, and searched the park, receiving the assistance of a Chicago Police Department helicopter, Dugan said.
Service to the Chicago Transit Authority’s Yellow Line was also temporarily disrupted while officers searched the area around the tracks for the suspect, Dugan said.
The female passenger was released without charges after the owner of the vehicle declined to press charges, Dugan said.
Tactical officers continued their investigation into the incident and have significant information on the identity of the driver that fled, Dugan said. Officers did not observe the man with a firearm during the incident, he said.
Police are requesting that anyone with information call the Evanston Police Department at 847-866-5000 or use Text-A-Tip at CRIMES (274637) and entering EPDTIP in the message line with the tip information.
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