La Porte County deputies were involved in a vehicle pursuit Tuesday afternoon that ended on the Chicago Skyway, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office.
A deputy received a Flock Safety Camera notification of a stolen vehicle traveling eastbound on U.S. 20 from U.S. 35. The notification identified the stolen vehicle as a black sport utility vehicle with Illinois registration.
At about 3:24 p.m., Deputy Clemons located a vehicle matching the description in the area of U.S. 20 and Wilhelm Road. The vehicle turned into Hunters Run subdivision where the deputy initiated a traffic stop shortly thereafter. The vehicle stopped in a driveway located in the 4900 north block of Hunters Glen Drive. The driver briefly obeyed the commands of Deputy Clemons but proceeded to drive away, resulting in a motor vehicle pursuit.
The vehicle traveled within the Hunters Run subdivision before exiting onto westbound U.S. 20. The pursuit traveled west on U.S. 20 to County Road 525 West. The fleeing vehicle made a U-turn and began to travel eastbound on U.S. 20. The vehicle continued fleeing eastbound to County Road 400 West where it turned southbound. The pursuit continued to U.S. 35, turned northbound, and traveled back to U.S. 20. From westbound U.S. 20, the fleeing vehicle merged onto I-94 where the pursuit continued traveling westbound.
The pursuit traveled westbound along I-94 eventually heading into Lake County. The vehicle merged onto the Indiana Toll Road. The pursuit continued west to the Illinois state line and onto the Chicago Skyway. The pursuit ended at the Chicago Skyway Bridge Toll Plaza where the driver was taken into custody.
The driver was identified as 43-year-old James A. Simcoe of Norridge, Illinois. Officers from the Chicago Police Department took possession of Simcoe, pending extradition back to La Porte County for criminal charges.