A man accused of taking Kane County sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase that started in South Elgin and ended with a utility pole collision in St. Charles has been charged with a slew of felony offenses, officials said.
Wasfi Farooqui, of the 500 block of Oakwood Lane, South Elgin, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the incident that began about 3 p.m. on Randall Road at Gyorr Avenue, a sheriff’s office report said.
Sheriff’s deputies learned Farooqui, wanted on arrest warrants for fleeing and driving with a revoked license, was in the area after new law enforcement technology placed him in the parking lot of a BMO Harris Bank at Randall Road and Thornwood Avenue in South Elgin, the report said.
Deputies attempted pull him over in the parking lot and again when he exited on to Silver Glen Road, but Farooqui allegedly refused to stop. With officers in pursuit of his 2022 Dodge Charger, he turned on to southbound to Crane Road and then struck a pole at Crane Road and Twin Silos Drive in St. Charles, the report said.
Farooqui was examined by medics at the scene and found to be uninjured, officials said.
On Wednesday, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Farooqui with three counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding for driving more than 21 mph over the limit, causing more than $300 in damage and disobeying two or more traffic control devices; two counts of criminal damage to property; and one county of aggravated assault to a peace officer resulting from his attempt to take an officer’s stun gun during his arrest.
Additionally, he also was charged with misdemeanor resisting/obstructing a peace officer, driving while license revoked and speeding more than 35 mph over the limit, and issued citations for operating an uninsured motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a crash, improper lane usage and disobeying a stop sign.
The sheriff’s office credits the Illinois State Police, South Elgin Police Department and Fox River & Countryside Fire Rescue District with assisting them with the arrest and crash scene, the report said.