Man convicted of trying to kill undercover cop in Carpentersville
A 47-year-old man faces up to 80 years in prison after his conviction this week of attempted murder of a peace officer during a drug deal in January 2012 in Carpentersville and a subsequent chase that ended in Itasca, according to prosecutors and court records.
A Kane County jury late Thursday night convicted Leamon R. Cavitt Jr., of East St. Louis, of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted murder, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, aggravated battery of a peace office, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated fleeing and eluding, all felonies.
Cavitt will be sentenced April 28.
According to prosecutors, Cavitt drove to a restaurant parking lot Jan. 17 on the 1600 block of Ravine Lane to buy a kilogram of cocaine in a deal arranged by Cavitt's co-defendant, Sentoro D. Dunn. Cavitt gave $30,000 to Dunn, who used it to buy the cocaine from the sellers, who were undercover officers. Once the deal was made, an unmarked police unit pulled behind Cavitt's car, prosecutors said.
Cavitt put his car into reverse and rammed the police vehicle just as the officer was exiting, injuring the officer. Cavitt then drove forward and tried to run down another officer, who jumped out of the way. He drove off, sparking a 20-mile chase that went through several towns until he surrendered in Itasca. Police also fired at Cavitt, hitting him and injuring him during the chase, prosecutors said.
State's Attorney Joe McMahon thanked the Illinois State Police, along with departments from Carpentersville, Streamwood, Addison and Schaumburg for their work on the case.
"Violence relegated to the illicit narcotics trade isn't confined to large, urban areas. Even in Kane County police officers face grave risks when they try to interrupt the trade," McMahon sad. "Fortunately, the officers involved were not seriously hurt."
Cavitt has been held at the Kane County jail on $2 million bail since his arrest.
Dunn, 45, of Rockford, is set for a jury trial July 11 and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of drug charges.