Elgin man caught with heroin after chase, car fire

A 28-year-old Elgin man was caught with heroin after leading authorities on a chase that ended when his car rolled over and caught fire near Santa's Village Azoosment Park in East Dundee.

Elijah C. Pittman, of the 0-99 block of Crystal Street, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, aggravated fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, driving under the influence and a host of other traffic offenses. The charges carry penalties of up to five years in prison.

A Kane County Sheriff's deputy saw Pittman talking on his cellphone while driving through a construction zone on I-90 near Route 25. The deputy tried to make a traffic stop at the Milk Pail, 14N630 Route 25, but Pittman sped off and the deputy eventually lost sight of Pittman's silver Pontiac, sheriff's police said.

A short time later, the deputy saw Pittman running on the east side of Route 25 after crashing his car at the Santa's Village site, at 601 Dundee Ave.

The car rolled over and caught fire, sending a pillar of black smoke into the air visible from downtown Elgin.

Pittman was caught a short time later in the Milk Pail parking lot.

During the chase, the deputy saw Pittman throw something out of his car window. Authorities say they were able to locate what Pittman tossed: 5 grams of a substance that tested positive for heroin.

Pittman was being held at the Kane County jail Thursday.

Neither his bond amount nor next court date were immediately available.