By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
GENEVA — Two unknown suspects eluded Geneva police on a stolen all-terrain vehicle Tuesday night, Geneva police reports show.
The low-speed mostly off-road chase, which ended after a police cruiser became stuck in the mud, began when Sgt. Joseph Webb saw the men driving the yellow four-wheeler down Kiwanis Park Drive at 9:20 p.m. and initiated a traffic stop, police reports show.
The 2006 Cub Cadet ATV was reported stolen Sunday, police reports show.
As Webb turned on his cruiser’s lights, the men drove the vehicle off-road, Webb said.
“They attempted to elude me by going up a railroad-access road by the overpass and onto Sherman Street,” Webb said.
Calling for Patrolman Doug Zetlaw to cut the men off at the main road, Webb saw the men drive between houses and backyards, he said.
“The suspects doubled back onto Sherman Street and drove the four-by-four between the houses … they hit a chain-link fence at 752 Sherman St.,” Webb reports.
Webb said the men abandoned the stolen ATV and ran off, with Webb chasing one man through the field behind Walker Funeral Home.
“I approached the suspect, but he heard the dispatch traffic on my radio and took off,” Webb said.
The officers searched the area for the two men but came up empty-handed. Zetlaw called for the ATV to be towed back to the owner, North Ridge Power Equipment, and also to have his police cruiser pulled out from the muddy field, where it was stuck, police reports show.
Webb said the officers never saw the men’s faces, though in-cruiser video captured some of the chase.
The suspects could face charges of fleeing and eluding police, possession of stolen property, reckless operation, and driving an unlicensed vehicle on the roadway, police reports show.
Anyone having any information regarding this incident is asked to call the Geneva Police Department (440-466-1111).
