Waukegan man accused of hitting cop with car pleads not guilty
A Waukegan man accused of hitting a police officer with a car after a retail theft at the Round Lake Beach Wal-Mart pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in Lake County court Wednesday.
Cedric D. Brown, 43, whose last known address was the 1000 Block of Pacific, remains held in Lake County jail on $750,000 bail on multiple charges. They include resisting a peace officer, aggravated fleeing and eluding police, obstructing justice, burglary, retail theft, aggravated battery use of a deadly weapon, and aggravated battery of a peace officer.
His trial is tentatively scheduled for July 11.
Police were called to the Wal-Mart at 2680 N. Route 83 about 12:30 p.m. May 22 for a report of a retail theft, officials said. Brown saw officers arrive after leaving the store and ran to his nearby car, authorities said.
An officer approached and opened the vehicle door to apprehend Brown, but Brown put the car in reverse to escape, authorities said.
The officer was struck by the open door and knocked to the ground, authorities said. The officer suffered scrapes and bruises but was not seriously injured.
Police discovered the vehicle about 90 minutes later on the 800 block of Seneca Trail in Round Lake Heights. A search of the area was conducted, but Brown was not located that day.
Brown was found and arrested by Waukegan police at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 24.
He is due back in court on June 5 for pretrial.