Odd story of the day.
BULL VALLEY - McHenry County Sheriff's police are investigating a Monday chase that ended with police firing 13 shots at a car that officers say was violently driving toward one of them.
McHenry County Undersheriff Eugene Lowery said he was confident that the investigation of the incident, which resulted in no injuries, would determine that officers used appropriate force. Lowery did say police are encouraged to fire at a moving vehicle only as a last resort.
Robert J. Raycraft, 34, of 5219 N. Richmond Road, McHenry, has been charged with reckless conduct, reckless driving, and attempting to flee and elude police in connection with Monday's incident.
Raycraft argued that he never intended to injure police, and that police did not need to shoot.
"What happened was completely ridiculous," Raycraft said.
The two officers who fired shots, Bull Valley Police Chief Norbert Sauers and McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy John Eppley, will remain on duty while the investigation continues, Lowery said.
Lowery said Sauers noticed a suspicious vehicle outside a Saddle Creek Road home about 2:10 p.m., Lowery said.
Sauers, who was out of the office Thursday, could not be reached for comment.
Sauers tried to approach Raycraft, who was standing outside the home, Lowery said. Instead, Raycraft entered his 1991 Ford Bronco and began a 10- to 20-minute chase through Bull Valley, Lowery said."It wasn't at high speeds," Lowery said. "I would say they never really got over 50 mph."
Raycraft said that he stopped at the Saddle Creek Road home to fix the Bronco he was driving. He said that after Sauers asked him to get out of the car he got upset.
"So I just took off," he said. "I just didn't want to deal with them. I knew I wasn't going to get away, but I was hoping to make the chase last a little while."
Raycraft then drove into a large property at 314 N. Valley Hill Road and began driving through the grass, Lowery said. Raycraft eventually turned his Bronco toward Sauers and his squad car and started driving directly at him, Lowery said.
"There was a perceived threat of life," Lowery said.
Raycraft said he never intended to hurt the officers, and he never aimed his vehicle at any of them.
"I was just trying to find a way out," Raycraft said.
Eppley fired eight shots at Raycraft's truck and Sauers shot five times, Lowery said. Raycraft was not hit with any bullets, but his vehicle was hit several times, Lowery said.
Raycraft continued to drive for a short time until his vehicle got stuck, police said. He then left his vehicle and attempted to run away, but police arrested him, Lowery said.
Raycraft was released from the McHenry County Jail Wednesday after posting $400 bond. If convicted, he could face up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Lowery said that after the investigation is complete, police would give their reports to the McHenry County State's Attorney's office as a matter of procedure.
posted by Dreyfuss at 2:42 PM
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