Police: Man shot in chase he led still improving
The 18-year-old Ingleside man who police say led them on a destructive car chase last Thursday night is still recovering from a gunshot wound to his cheek and a broken arm, and is no longer in critical condition.
Advocate Condell Medical Center officials said Sunday that Ronald Q. Maas is improving and in good condition, but remains at the Libertyville hospital where he was taken after police apprehended him early Friday morning.
Police have not released any information into their investigation of Maas' actions, which they say includes stealing two cars, rolling one of them over, trying to crash into squad cars, injuring two people after slamming into their car head on and getting shot in the face by police.
George Filenko, the head of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, said Sunday the task force is investigating only the officer-involved shooting. Filenko said they had no new information about that.
The rest of the investigation is being handled by the Round Lake Police Department. Chief Mike Gillette could not be reached for comment Sunday evening.
Maas has been charged with attempted murder, theft, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, aggravated fleeing and eluding, attempted theft, aggravated assault and criminal damage to government property, and later aggravated DUI after authorities said he registered a blood-alcohol level of .13.
Authorities gave the following account Friday:
The first chase started at 10:40 p.m. Thursday when Round Lake police officers spotted a stolen 2009 Ford sedan near Washington Street and Cedar Lake Avenue. Reports said Maas, who was driving the Ford and wanted on an outstanding burglary warrant, fled.
Officers pursued for a short while and stopped, requesting instead that a report of the stolen auto be broadcast to all Lake County agencies.
About 10 minutes later, Lake Villa police found the Ford rolled over on Route 83 and said that Maas had taken a second car, a 2002 F-350 Ford pickup, from the 200 block of Burnett in Lake Villa.
Police said Maas then picked up a 15-year-old female friend from the 23000 block of West Liberty Avenue in Lake Villa. A sheriff's deputy spotted the pair at 11:15 p.m. near Petite Lake and Old Petite Lake roads in unincorporated Lake County, but when he tried to pull the truck over, Maas again took off.
Two sheriff's deputies next saw the stolen truck at 11:31 p.m. speeding north on Forest Avenue near Route 134 in Ingleside. But once the driver saw the deputies, police said the Ford turned around and came right at them.
The deputies moved the vehicles to avoid being struck, but one was damaged after it was backed into a guardrail. Reports said Maas turned east on Route 134, where he hit another pickup truck, then put the stolen truck in reverse and accelerated, striking a squad car with the deputy inside.
Police said Maas put the vehicle in drive and rammed the pickup truck again, before bashing the sheriff's vehicle once more.
A Round Lake Heights officer shot at Maas' vehicle, hitting him in the face. Still, Maas was able to drive off and avoid capture, reports said.
Grayslake police next saw Maas driving north on Route 45 from Route 120 about 12:25 a.m. Friday, Thompson said. Grayslake officers attempted to stop him, but Maas accelerated to speeds of more than 80 mph, authorities said.
The chase finally ended when Maas crossed the centerline of Route 45 in the stolen truck and struck a 2013 Chevrolet Spark head on, according to reports. The truck rolled over.
Police said Maas, who had a gunshot wound to his cheek and then a broken arm from the rollover, ran away near the J & B Ranch on Route 45.
Reports said the 15-year-old girl identified Maas, which triggered a manhunt in the woods near the crash scene. She was taken to Condell for treatment of minor injuries, suffering abrasions and a wrist injury.
The two passengers of the Chevrolet Spark were injured more seriously and were also taken to Condell.
Maas was seized by police about 1:20 a.m. Friday when a 911 dispatcher received a call from someone claiming to hear "moaning" at a barn near the J&B Ranch, according to authorities.
Two sheriff's deputies found Maas, who had climbed into a work truck and was attempting to put the vehicle in drive when deputies moved in, Thompson said. Maas then was brought to Condell.