A police pursuit ended in a crash and arrest on Friday, April 11, after a Galva man was caught driving a vehicle reported stolen out of Peoria.
Donald J. Shaw, 26, faces charges of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, a Class 4 felony.
According to a news release issued by the Kewanee Police Department, at approximately 8:11 p.m., Kewanee police responded to a call from a Peoria resident, who reported her vehicle stolen earlier that day. After tracking the vehicle to the 100 block of Payson Street in Kewanee, she alerted law enforcement while remaining nearby.
When officers arrived on the scene to investigate, the suspect attempted to flee the scene, leading police on a westbound pursuit through Kewanee.
The chase extended past city limits, continuing onto the Galva-Atkinson Blacktop. The fleeing vehicle eventually left the roadway just south of N 570th Avenue, rolling multiple times before coming to a stop upside down.
The driver, Shaw, escaped the wreckage on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
After being medically evaluated and released from OSF Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee, Shaw was transferred to the Henry County Jail, where he awaits formal charges.
Shaw is currently on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections. If convicted of a Class 2 felony, he could be sentenced to three to seven years in prison. A Class 4 felony is punishable by one to three years in prison, along with a mandatory 100 hours of community service.
Shaw is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at the Henry County Courthouse on April 21.
The Kewanee Police Department thanked assisting agencies for their support during the incident.
