Three officers injured in Kane County chase

Three officers were injured and two squad cars were damaged when a 37-year-old man in a stolen pickup truck led police on a high-speed chase through northeastern Kane County Saturday night.

Police arrested Henry Benjamin III of Chicago when he tried to escape on foot after a chain collision that sent the pickup into a utility pole at a West Dundee intersection, according to authorities.

A Carpentersville police officer pulled Benjamin over at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. As the officer tried to arrest Benjamin, who was still in the vehicle, Benjamin placed the pickup into gear and dragged the officer for several feet, according to police.

Authorities said Benjamin sped from the scene of the initial stop on Route 25 just south of Lake Marian Road and was caught in West Dundee at the intersection of Route 72 and Route 31.

The pickup truck was heading west on Route 72, when it struck a squad car blocking traffic from crossing route 31 and was then struck from behind by a pursuing squad car and finally smashed into a utility pole, police said.

Benjamin fled the vehicle but was stopped by police after a short foot chase, authorities said.

Benjamin racked up a total of 11 charges including DUI causing great bodily harm, aggravated battery, possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting a peace officer, hit-and-run and aggravated fleeing, according to police.

During the course of the chase he also struck and damaged the front of a Carpentersville squad car, police said.

By the end of the pursuit three officers were injured along with Benjamin, police said. A Carpentersville officer and a West Dundee officer were both treated and released from the hospital. Benjamin was released early Sunday and taken back into custody.

During the initial traffic stop, a Carpentersville officer suspected Benjamin was drunk and Benjamin began arguing with the officer about the reason for the stop, according to police.

Benjamin then attempted to reach into the vehicle's center console and the officer told him to stop, police said. He continued to reach and the officer told him he was under arrest and grabbed him, according to police. At that point, police said Benjamin hit the gas.

He led police west onto Route 68, into the Dundee Township Park District parking lot, back out onto 68 and west onto Route 72 before his arrest, according to police. Benjamin was additionally charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, criminal damage to property and reckless driving.

He was released from Sherman Hospital Sunday morning and is in custody awaiting a bond call this morning.