Man Leads Police on Chase Via Snowplow After Jumping From Ambulance

A 20-year-old man led police on a chase that involved jumping out of a moving ambulance, stealing a snowplow that had its blade stuck in the down position and then hiding inside a car he broke into, according to police, all after he was initially arrested for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

Lake Forest Police responded Feb. 8 at 1:15 a.m. to a dorm at Lake Forest College for a report of two men who had been detained by security personnel after fighting and smoking pot on campus, according to the police report. 

The men, Kent M. Evans, 21, and John Michael Grimes, 20, both of Elk Grove Village, were interviewed and Grimes was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstruction of justice after police say he threw a container of pot out of the window.

Evans was taken into custody as well for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said. 

Because he had a laceration from the earlier fight, he was turned over to paramedics to take him to the hospital. However, on the way there police say he jumped out of the moving ambulance and ran away, damaging a heart monitor in the process.

Police officers from several departments responded to search for him. At 2:15 a.m., Evans was found after police say he stole a private snowplow and drove by several officers with the blade stuck in the down position. He abandoned the plow after being unable to raise the blade, which was damaged on the pavement, and was chased by police into a nearby subdivision.

Around 3 a.m. police said they found him hiding inside a vehicle that he had broken into. He was taken into custody without further incident and taken to the hospital.

Evans was charged with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal trespass to a motor vehicle, criminal damage to property, resisting arrest, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was processed and held overnight before being taken to Lake County Jail for a bond hearing in the morning.

Grimes was released on a $25,000 bond with a court date of March 10 in Waukegan.

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