Teen arrested for allegedly wrecking vehicles, injuring passengers
An 18-year-old Ingleside , Ill., man allegedly led police on a chase of destruction in two stolen vehicles Nov. 13 that didn’t end until the teen suffered a gunshot wound to the cheek and a broken arm.
Police eventually found and arrested Ronald Q. Maas as he allegedly attempted to steal a third vehicle in an apparent effort to continue to elude police.
In his wake, Maas allegedly damaged multiple vehicles and sent three people – including two with serious injuries – to an area hospital.
According to a press release issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office:
At approximately 10:50 p.m., officers from the Round Lake (Ill.) Police Department spotted a stolen 2009 Ford sedan in the area of Washington Street and Cedar Lake Avenue. A traffic stop was attempted on the vehicle driven by 18-year-old Ronald Q. Maas of Ingleside.
Maas allegedly fled from officers and short pursuit followed. Round Lake Officers eventually terminated their pursuit, requesting that a broadcast be sent out to all Lake County agencies regarding the stolen auto.
At approximately 11:02 p.m., officers from the Lake Villa Police Department came across a single vehicle rollover accident involving the offending vehicle on Highway 83. Maas fled the scene on foot and eventually found another vehicle (a 2002 F350 Ford pick-up) to steal near the 200 block of Burnett in Lake Villa. Maas picked up a 15-year-old female friend from the 23000 block of W. Liberty Avenue in Lake Villa during this time.
At approximately 11:15 p.m., a Lake County sheriff’s deputy spotted the pair traveling in the area of Petite Lake and Old Petite Lake Roads. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle and a short pursuit ensued. The deputy terminated his pursuit. Several other agencies were now aware of the situation and searching for the vehicle.
At approximately 11:31 p.m., two sheriff’s deputies, who were positioned at Highway 134 and Forest Avenue in Ingleside, saw the vehicle drive north on Forest from Highway 134 at a high rate of speed. The vehicle turned around and drove back south on Forest, toward the two sheriff’s deputies.
Both deputies were able to move their squads to avoid being struck. One squad was damaged after backing in to a guardrail during the incident.
The fleeing vehicle turned east on Highway 134, striking another pickup truck head-on. Maas put the vehicle in reverse, and accelerated toward one of the sheriff’s deputies, striking the squad car while the deputy was inside of it. The offender then put the vehicle in drive and rammed the other pickup truck, before again putting the vehicle in reverse and driving toward the sheriff’s deputies.
At this time, a Round Lake Heights officer shot at the offending vehicle, but Maas was able to drive off and avoid capture.
At approximately 12:25 a.m., the Grayslake Police Department located the vehicle driving north on Highway 45 from Highway 120. Grayslake officers attempted to stop the vehicle, which then accelerated to speeds of over 80 mph. The vehicle crossed the centerline of Highway 45 and struck a 2013 Chevrolet Spark head-on. The vehicle rolled over and Maas fled the scene to an area near the J and B Ranch located on Highway 45.
The 15-year-old female friend immediately identified Maas as the offender and gave responding officers and deputies a full description. She sustained non-life threatening injuries in the crash and was transported to Condell Hospital for treatment. The two passengers of the Chevrolet sustained serious injuries and were transported to Condell Hospital as well.
At approximately 1:20 a.m., 911 operators received a call from a person reporting they could hear someone or something “moaning” by their barn (near the J and B Ranch). Two sheriff’s deputies found Maas, who had climbed in to a work truck and was attempting to put the vehicle in drive when deputies moved in.
As they took Maas into custody, police was discovered he had suffered a gunshot wound to the cheek area and had substantial bleeding. A broken arm was also noted from the crash. Rescue personnel were summoned to begin treatment. Maas has an outstanding felony warrant for Burglary.
This incident remains under investigation by the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force and the Major Crash Assistance Team as well as Lake County Sheriff and several other local law enforcement agencies.
Charges were pending at the time the Sheriff’s Office released the information.