Alleged carjacker leads police on pursuit from Beloit to Rockford

STATELINE – On Monday, Aug. 3, officers were notified that Rock County Sheriff’s Department was following a vehicle southbound on 251 from the Stateline. Officers were also informed that the driver of the vehicle had used a gun to commit a carjacking in Beloit, Wis.

At about 2:37 a.m., a Loves Park officer attempted to stop the stolen car on N. Second St. at around Windsor Road. The driver of the vehicle continued on N. Second St., to Loves Ct., where he turned onto the dead-end road.

As the driver reached Loves Park Grade School, near the dead-end of Loves Ct., officers exited their squads and engaged the vehicle’s driver with service weapons drawn, however, the driver turned the vehicle around and accelerated back eastbound.

The driver veered toward one of the officers who was on foot engaging the vehicle. The officer was able to get out of the way before being struck by the vehicle.

The vehicle pursuit continued southbound on N. Second St., to Auburn St., where the driver headed westbound. During the pursuit, the driver of the vehicle crossed three lanes of traffic, while veering toward a squad car moving eastbound in the outside lane. The officer in that squad car was forced to leave the roadway to avoid a collision.

The vehicle pursuit ended near Rockford Memorial Hospital, when the vehicle left the roadway and collided with the hospital’s parking lot signage. The driver bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot.

As the man fled on foot through the hospital’s parking lot, Loves Park officers were joined by officers from Rockford and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department in the foot pursuit.

Jason L. Thomas, 30, of Rockford was taken into custody inside the waiting area of hospital’s emergency room.

During the arrest, Thomas allegedly tried to punch a Loves Park officer.

Officers learned that the victim of the carjacking had also arrived at the hospital in a car the suspect had gotten out of just prior to the carjacking in Beloit. It was discovered that the vehicle had been stolen from a car dealership on Kilburn Ave., in Rockford, sometime during the night.

When arriving at the car dealership, officers discovered a broken window on the business. The owner of the car lot was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was stolen from his lot.

Thomas was charged with Unlawful Use of Weapon, Aggravated Driving While under the Influence, Aggravated Fleeing to Elude Police, two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Assault, Unlawful Possession of Stolen Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Reckless Driving, Driving While License Suspended, Speeding, Improper Lane Usage, Driving in the Wrong Lane, Disobeyed Stop Sign and Disobeyed Traffic Control Device.

Thomas was treated at Rockford Memorial Hospital for a sprained ankle before being lodged into Winnebago County Jail. Beloit Police and Rockford Police are continuing to investigate the alleged carjacking, as well as the burglary on Kilburn Ave, and the traffic crash in front of the hospital.

The charges are merely allegations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.