Chase involving feds results in crashes, ends in arrests at Gurnee high school campus: police
A School Resource Officer helped to secure the campus, and a lockdown was not required, police said.
GURNEE, Ill. (WLS) -- A car chase involving federal immigration agents ended in arrests at a north suburban high school Thursday morning, Gurnee police said.
Gurnee police said they were notified Thursday morning of an incident involving federal law enforcement agencies in pursuit of people in a vehicle who had previously been deported for felony offenses.
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The roughly 10-minute chase began outside of Gurnee and resulted in multiple crashes, police said.
The Department of Homeland Security said it started with an attempted traffic stop involving Border Patrol agents on Dugdale Road.
Just after 8:20 a.m., the suspect vehicle was speeding west on Grand Avenue, when it lost a tire near the intersection with First Street, police said.
The tire hit a vehicle traveling east on Grand.
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The suspect vehicle continued west on Grand before turning south onto O'Plaine Road, near the entrance to Warren Township High School's O'Plaine Campus.
Those in the vehicle got out and ran toward the school, police said.
One suspect entered the school and was detained by federal agents; the other was taken into custody outside the school.
Warren Township High School District 121 Superintendent Daniel Woestman said federal agents were at the school for roughly three minutes, as they chased down the suspects.
At one point, a suspect and agents entered a classroom.
Those few minutes caused chaos and confusion for students, staff and parents.
The school superintendent says this happened in the area where students receive special programming as they get ready to start their days.
"There were students that were actively coming out of the door while one of the suspects entered into the door. So, it does make sense that there would have been some physical contact between the student and federal agent," Woestman said.
The school superintendent says he spoke with Border Patrol leadership after the incident and expressed his concerns.
Gurnee police were not involved in the chase or arrests.
A School Resource Officer helped to secure the campus, and a lockdown was not required, police said.
"The Gurnee Police Department understands that developing situations of this nature can be alarming to students, staff, and parents. Fortunately, no injuries were reported for anyone on campus or to motorists in the area. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Warren Township High School staff, students, and parents for their cooperation and patience throughout the incident," police said.
DHS said the two suspects have criminal histories that include kidnapping, domestic violence, drug possession, driving under the influence and more.
"These two criminal illegal aliens recklessly endangered the public by starting a highspeed car chase and then driving onto school grounds, possibly to seek protection since they are 'ICE Free Zones.' Border Patrol does not conduct enforcements near schools but will not allow criminal illegal aliens to put the public in harm's way," DHS said.
The school is offering extra support for students who need help processing the incident.
