A man was charged Wednesday after leading police on a high-speed chase through the streets of Chicago Tuesday.
Desmond Henry, 25, of the 100 block of North Laporte Avenue in Chicago, was charged with one felony count of aggravated fleeing police at a rate of more than 21 mph, aggravated assault on a police officer and four counts of felony unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. His bond was set at $500,000.
He also faces charges for possession of a controlled substance and manufacture or delivery of cannabis along with numerous traffic citations.
At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Henry was observed in a rental car with a suspect wanted for double murder, prosecutors said. They then switched rental cars to a black Cherokee in the middle of the day under the same rental agreement.
Henry was arrested after officers attempted to make an "investigatory stop on his vehicle" around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday near Polk St. and California Avenue, police said. He then led police on a miles-long chase to the 200 block of North Central Avenue, where he jumped out of the car while it was still in "drive" and ran to a friend's apartment, prosecutors said. A girl and a 2-year-old child were inside that apartment.
Video footage of the chase showed the vehicle traveling around 70 miles per hour over a span of six or seven miles across the West Side.
It appeared at least one car was struck during the chase.
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A short time later, Henry was arrested. He was carrying a bag with 15 baggies of cannabis and about 100 rounds of ammunition. Police also found heroin in the Cherokee and a handgun with 13 live rounds, prosecutors said.
At the time of his arrest, Henry was on parole. He had previously been convicted of five felony charges, including possession of narcotics, aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident, according to prosecutors.
Police said Tuesday the individual taken into custody at the scene was considered a person of interest in an August homicide, but no charges were filed Wednesday in connection with a homicide.
When deciding whether to pursue a suspect, it is CPD policy to decide if the need to immediately apprehend the person outweighs the level of danger the chase creates.
Check back for updates in this breaking news story.
