Kidnapping Charges Filed From Tuesday Pursuit in Lake County

On Tuesday, December 7th, at approximately 7:40 p.m., the Lowell Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call of a woman being held against her will in a vehicle by a known male. Quick work by dispatch resulted in information being relayed to troopers who were able to locate the suspect vehicle in seven minutes. Troopers attempted to stop the 2011 BMW and as an officer approached the vehicle, the driver fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed.

After a brief pursuit, the vehicle stopped as a result of it striking stop sticks that additional troopers had placed along the roadway. Once stopped, the suspect, David J. Stewart, 24, from Dolton, IL, was taken into custody without further incident and the victim was taken to safety. Further investigation by the ISP Lowell Criminal Investigation Division has resulted in detectives presenting the following charges to the Lake County Prosecutor for consideration:

Kidnapping- Level 5 Felony

Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle- Level 6 Felony

Criminal Recklessness- Class B Misdemeanor (2 counts)

Reckless Driving- Class B Misdemeanor

Mr. Stewart was incarcerated at the Lake County Jail.

All persons named in this release are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. All charges mentioned are merely accusations, actual charges will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office.