Authorities: Wisconsin man stole SUV, led police on chase with boy inside
A Wisconsin man is being held in Lake County jail after, officials say, he stole an SUV with a 9-year-old boy inside in Kenosha County, then led police on a high-speed chase into Illinois.
Michael E. Newhouse, 58, of the 2900 block of 73rd Street in Kenosha, has been charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, aggravated reckless driving, endangering the life of a child, and numerous traffic citations, officials said.
The child was found safe and uninjured in the vehicle, authorities said. The boy, who has not been identified, was later reunited with his family.
"We are very relieved the child was returned safely to the family," Lake County Undersheriff Raymond Rose said Thursday.
The crime began in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, where a California man and his two sons driving in a rented 2016 Hyundai Sante Fe had stopped to buy snacks at a gas station in the 7500 block of 118th Avenue, Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana said.
The man and his 14-year-old son went inside the gas station, but left the vehicle running to keep the air-conditioning on for the 9-year-old child sleeping inside.
Newhouse jumped into the driver's seat of the running vehicle and drove off, authorities said.
"We have not had a chance to interview Mr. Newhouse so we do not know if or when he became aware the 9-year-old child was in the car," Smetana said.
The Lake County sheriff's office received a call from Pleasant Prairie police about 2:10 a.m. with the report that the Hyundai had been stolen from the gas station and was heading to Illinois, authorities said.
Lake County sheriff's deputies located the Hyundai at 2:22 a.m. on the Tri-State Tollway near Route 22 in Lincolnshire, officials said. Deputies tried to stop the vehicle, officials said, but it evaded police and headed east on the Tri-State.
Lake County sheriff's Detective Christopher Covelli said the traffic was light during the chase and there were points when speeds exceeded 80 mph.
Deputies and Illinois State Police pursued the vehicle and eventually stopped it on the Tri-State Tollway near Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines.
Newhouse is held in Lake County jail on $250,000 bail. He is required to post 10 percent to be released from jail.
The case remains under investigation. Additional charges in Wisconsin and Illinois are possible, authorities said.
Newhouse is due back in court June 29.