BRAIDWOOD, Ill. – The Braidwood Police Department is currently investigating an aggravated vehicular hijacking that occurred on March 10, 2023, at approximately 7:30 a.m. According to the department, officers were dispatched to the area of IL Rt 113 and Coal City Rd for a suspicious person attempting to flag down motorists in the roadway.
Upon arrival, Braidwood officers learned that a male black subject had forcefully entered the passenger door of a Blue Dodge Charger that was stopped at the intersection. The subject held a handgun to the victim’s head and demanded her to drive, eventually ordering her out of the vehicle after a short distance.
The vehicle fled northbound on 155, where it was pursued by multiple agencies. The pursuit was terminated in a construction zone near 180 eastbound near Larkin Ave. Braidwood officers were in constant communication with the vehicle’s owner, who was getting updated locations of the vehicle via a GPS device that was recently installed. Due to this, officers were able to monitor and track the vehicle’s movements to the area of 68th St. and Cottage Grove on the southeast side of Chicago.
Braidwood officers located the vehicle and an armed confrontation occurred between one of the suspects and Braidwood officers. The suspect fled into the hijacked vehicle and fled the scene with Braidwood officers pursuing. The vehicle then eluded Braidwood officers.
Officers continued to monitor the vehicle’s movements until they were able to locate it near 68th and Paxton, unoccupied. The vehicle was towed to the Braidwood Police Department for processing. The case is currently under investigation.
The Braidwood Police Department extends its thanks to the Elwood Police Department, Channahon Police Department, Shorewood Police Department, Chicago Police Department, and Illinois State Police Department for their assistance.
