Two arrested after Libertyville store theft, officer injured

A Libertyville police officer suffered minor injuries Thursday morning after he was hit by a car and dragged a short distance while trying to stop a retail theft, authorities said.

Two Chicago women were arrested and charged on Interstate 94 after they drove off, police said.

According to Libertyville police, the incident began at about 11:45 a.m. when an officer was making a routine check at a business on the 100 block of Peterson Road and a woman in the store set off the alarm as she walked out.

The store clerks asked the woman to come back to see if any item accidentally set off the alarm, and she left her bag on the counter and ran off, they said.

The officer went after her and she got into a car through the passenger door and the driver put the vehicle into reverse, striking the officer and dragging him a short distance before the proceeding east on Peterson and then east on I-94. Other departments were notified and a traffic stop was made a few minutes later.

The two women in the car were arrested and taken to the Lake County jail, where their bail amounts and next court dates were not immediately available.

The officer was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center, where he was treated for "minor injuries" and released, police said.

Yolanda K. Holmes, 40, of the 2100 block of South 15th Street, is charged with felony retail theft, aggravated battery to a police officer, obstruction of justice, and misdemeanor marijuana possession from the Libertyville incident. She also was wanted on two fugitive from justice warrants from Wisconsin and on a retail theft warrant out of McHenry County, authorities said.

Anita J. McGhee, 23, of the 2800 block of West Lexington Street, is charged with felony aggravated battery to a police officer and leaving the scene of an accident, authorities said.

If convicted of the most severe charge, each defendant faces a prison term of up to seven years.