Freeport police justified in officer-involved shootout

CARROLL COUNTY, Ill. (WTVO) — Freeport Police Officers who were involved in a high-speed chase that led to a suspect being injured in a shootout were found to be justified by Carroll County Courts.

Officials arrested 59-year-old Mark Feltmeyer, of Freeport, after a chase that resulted in multiple officers being injured in June.

The pursuit began with a stolen car report in Freeport on June 25, which resulted in a chase that led to Savanna.

According to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, around 10:19 p.m., a Freeport police officer attempted to stop the driver of a stolen car, but the suspect sped from the scene, nearly hitting a squad car and another vehicle in the process.

The officer lost sight of the offender, but later that evening, Jo Daviess deputies spotted the car in Hanover, 42 miles away, and engaged in a pursuit, but the suspect got away.

At 3:40 a.m. the next day, police 13 miles away in Savanna located the suspect vehicle and another chase began.

Authorities said the suspect rammed the squad car and disabled it. At 3:45 a.m., police said shots were fired, and again at 3:48 a.m. as officers and deputies from Carroll County, the Savanna Police Department, and Mount Carroll joined the chase.

The suspect then crashed into a Mount Carroll Police Department squad car at 3:49 a.m. at the intersection of Chicago Street and Park Street in Savanna.

As police closed in, more shots were fired, and ambulances were called to the scene.

Authorities said multiple officers were injured in the incident and were taken to local hospitals for injuries deemed non-life-threatening.

Feltmeyer was injured during the shootout and taken to a local hospital. He was taken into custody shortly after being released.

Feltmeyer is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, three counts of criminal damage to government property, three counts of aggravated fleeing, three counts of attempting to elude a peace officer, two counts of aggravated assault to a peace officer, driving on a suspended license and two counts of resisting or obstructing an officer.