Pair picked up for ramming car full of kids

Two Elgin men were arrested late Wednesday nearly seven weeks after they rammed a 2003 van repeatedly on Elgin's east side which had six children inside, according to police.

Ryan C. Richardson, 22, of 1071 Byron Lane, Apt. 7, Elgin, and Terrance B. Johnson, 21, of 421 Ann St., Elgin, were each charged with six counts of endangering the life of a child, mob action, criminal damage to property and reckless conduct, police said.

A 27-year-old woman told police she was driving her blue 2003 Dodge van with six passengers, all children, in the area of Illinois Court and Illinois Avenue at 10:20 p.m. June 29 when a black Chrysler Sebring rammed her vehicle.

Then the Chrysler rammed the van again and again, she told police.

The woman told police she attempted to drive away and struck several other vehicles along the street.

She told police that two men were inside the Chrysler, one about 24 years old and the other about 21.

The Sebring sped off when a friend of the victim drove by and asked her what had happened.

Police were not sure on June 29 if it was a case of road rage or the two men in the Chrysler were trying to meet her.

When Richardson was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Elgin police said they also found a warrant for his arrest on a charge of unlawful contact with a street gang member. The Illinois Department of Corrections immediately placed a hold on him for violation of his parole.

Both Richardson and Johnson were taken to the Kane County jail Thursday morning with $2,000 bonds and Aug. 22 court dates at the Kane County Judicial Center.