Three Charged After Car Burglary Chase Through South Side

Three suspects were arrested Sunday after ramming a police squad car and leading officers on a chase through Beverly and Morgan Park that ended with a crash on Western Avenue, according to Evergreen Park police.

Jamarion Wallace, 18, of Chicago, was charged with reckless conduct and resisting arrest. Two minors were also taken into custody and sent to juvenile court in connection with the incident.

The chain of events began at 8:30 a.m. Sunday when Evergreen Park officers received a report of a car burglary in the 2600 block of 90th Place. Using surveillance cameras from nearby businesses, officers identified a black Nissan Altima with rental plates as connected to the break-in.

Two hours later, an Evergreen Park patrol unit spotted the Nissan parked at a Mount Greenwood business in the 3100 block of West 103rd Street. When officers approached, the Nissan rammed the squad car and fled eastbound on 103rd Street. No officers were injured in the collision.

The suspects drove through Beverly and into Morgan Park before crashing in the 10700 block of South Western Avenue. All three occupants fled on foot into the surrounding neighborhood, prompting a large-scale search involving Chicago Police, Evergreen Park officers, and Oak Lawn police.

“We had units from multiple departments working together to track down these suspects,” an Evergreen Park Police Department spokesperson said. “The cooperation between agencies was excellent.”

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about juvenile involvement in property crime across the South Side. The Cook County Juvenile Court has seen a steady increase in car-related offenses over the past year, with many cases involving suspects under 18.

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th), whose ward encompasses parts of Beverly and Morgan Park, confirmed all three suspects were apprehended. O’Shea has been vocal about youth crime prevention, recently supporting discussions about expanded curfew measures similar to those debated in other parts of the city.

The chase route took the suspects through some of the South Side’s most residential areas. The 103rd Street corridor runs through the heart of Mount Greenwood’s business district, while Western Avenue serves as a major north-south artery connecting Beverly to Morgan Park and beyond.

Sunday morning shoppers and churchgoers reported seeing the heavy police presence as officers cordoned off sections of Western Avenue near the crash site. The Nissan sustained significant front-end damage and had to be towed from the scene.

Evergreen Park police did not release the ages or genders of the two minors charged in the incident. Both were processed through the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center and are expected to appear in juvenile court this week.

The car burglary that sparked the chase remains under investigation. Police have not released details about what was taken from the vehicle or whether the suspects are connected to other recent break-ins in the area.

Evergreen Park has seen a uptick in vehicle-related crimes over the past six months, according to department statistics. The suburb borders Chicago’s 19th Ward and often coordinates with CPD on cases that cross jurisdictional lines.

The use of rental vehicles in property crimes has become a growing concern for suburban police departments. The temporary plates and lack of registered owner information can complicate initial identification, though surveillance technology has helped officers track suspect vehicles more effectively.

Sunday’s arrest comes as city officials continue to debate youth crime prevention measures. The City Council recently delayed a vote on expanded curfew provisions after concerns were raised about enforcement and community impact.

Wallace was processed at the Evergreen Park Police Department and later transferred to Cook County Jail. His bond hearing was scheduled for Monday morning at the Markham Courthouse.

The investigation remains active, with detectives reviewing additional surveillance footage from businesses along the chase route. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Evergreen Park police at 708-422-1234.

The crash damaged a section of Western Avenue’s southbound lanes, but city crews cleared the debris by early Sunday afternoon. Traffic resumed normal flow by 2 p.m.