Police: Man tried to flee cops - in a cop car

Charges are pending against a West Dundee man who police say crashed his car into a tree, then tried to flee by hopping in an unmarked police car.

Around 2:20 p.m. Monday, Tyler J. Shaw, 19, of the 2000 block of Spaulding Avenue hit a tree head-on at Cary-Algonquin Road and West Main Street. When police arrived, witnesses told them the driver fled on foot into the nearby Greenfields subdivision.

Officers found Shaw walking on Boxwood Lane, about two blocks from where he crashed his car.

Shaw ran from police, jumped into an unmarked Cary police car and tried to drive away, police said.

"He put his foot on the gas and the officers held onto the gear shift lever to keep the car in park," Cary Ofc. Geoff Witherow said. "They were able to open the door, remove him and handcuff him."

Shaw was taken to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington to be evaluated. Police did not have an update on his condition but said he was OK. Witherow said he was not sure what charges would be filed in the case but said it does not appear drugs or alcohol were factors.

Cary police are still investigating the incident.

"I personally have seen nothing like this," Witherow said.