Crime & Safety
Driver Smashes Cop In Car; Vehicle Was Likely Stolen
The man was driving a car found on the stolen vehicles database; he fled on foot and police chased. He's been charged with four felonies.
A 19-year-old Niles man was charged with allegedly driving a stolen vehicle into a police officer's squad car while the officer was inside it on Wednesday just before noon.
Kenneth Cooper, of the 8900 block of Washington, Niles, was charged with four felony crimes, including aggravated battery to a police officer and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
The incident unfolded after a Niles police officer did a routine check of the license plates on the Honda Civic that Cooper was driving and found they were on a statewide alert for a stolen motor vehicle.
Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Cooper was driving northwest in the 9500 block of Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, at the time. The officer radioed for backup and followed as the car turned west on Golf Road, north on Dee Road and west on Harrison Street.
A Cook County Sheriff's squad car approached with its emergency lights activated. According to police, the Honda accelerated and struck the Cook County squad car at the intersection. The driver fled from the vehicle, which continued to roll unoccupied, though it didn't strike anyone.
Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Niles officer exited his vehicle and chased Cooper on foot. According to police, the officer ordered Cooper to stop. When he kept running, the officer warned him to stop or he would be tased.
Police said Cooper kept running, the officer used his taser and Cooper fell to the ground. Niles Fire Department paramedics took Cooper to as police department policy requires when someone is tased. Cooper was then taken back to the Niles Police Department and charged.
The Cook County Sheriff's officer was also taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, for minor injuries. Before he went, he assisted the Niles officer in placing Cooper in custody.
Inside the Honda, police said they found a GPS taken from a stolen motor vehicle in Elgin. Cooper was also charged with theft, a Class 4 felony, fleeing and eluding a police officer, a Class 4 felony, and resisting a peace officer, a misdemeanor.
His bond was set at $75,000 for possession of stolen motor vehicle, resisting a peace officer, fleeing and eluding and theft. Bond for the aggravated battery to a peace officer charge was set at $50,000.
Information is taken from reports.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
