A man facing numerous criminal charges who fled a hospital in Aurora earlier this week was arrested coming out of a relative’s house Thursday in Quincy.
Quincy is on the Mississippi River more than 250 miles from Aurora.
Billy J. Cole, 38, of Aurora, was taken into custody at 10:40 a.m. without incident, Kane County sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. Patrick Gengler said Thursday. Cole will be brought to the Kane County Jail, Gengler said.
Cole had eluded authorities since Tuesday afternoon, when he left Rush-Copley Medical Center, where he was taken after crashing a car that was not his during a pursuit with a Kane County sheriff’s deputy Monday in Aurora, according to authorities.
Charges were filed Tuesday against Cole for alleged aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer, a class 3 felony; aggravated reckless driving causing great bodily harm, disability or disfigurement, a class 4 felony; leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a class 4 felony; driving on a revoked license where two or more people were injured, a class 4 felony; driving on a license revoked for DUI, a class 4 felony; resisting or obstructing a peace officer, a class A misdemeanor; and disobeying a stop sign, a traffic offense. Cole also has an outstanding, unserved order of protection from Sangamon County.
When the crash happened, Cole was also out on bond on unrelated charges of attempted murder and aggravated drunk driving.
The pursuit, initiated at 3:35 p.m. Monday by a Kane County sheriff’s deputy who said he saw a black Ford Fusion traveling north on Lafayette Street in Aurora at a high rate of speed, ended with the chased car crashing into a pole at Route 25 and Ashland Avenue in Aurora, according to authorities.
More Top Picks Best Garage Storage Systems For Homes
The passenger in the car, a 37-year-old Aurora man, was initially taken to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora with potentially life-threatening injuries. The sheriff’s office was told Wednesday that the passenger, who does not face charges in connection to the chase or crash, is no longer at the hospital, but he has not spoken to authorities and they don’t expect him to cooperate, Gengler said.
The car belonged to the passenger’s ex-girlfriend, who had reported to Aurora police that it had been taken without her permission Sunday.
Cole, the driver, ran from the car after the crash and was caught in a nearby cemetery, according to authorities.
When the sheriff’s office was notified Tuesday that Cole had left the hospital, his warrant was in the process of being prepared, Gengler said.
Twitter @hannahmleone