Illinois Teen Involved in Carjacking’s Caught By K-9 in Rockford

Two elderly women in Rockford had a terrifying encounter with a teen who was wanted for several crimes, according to a press release from the Rockford Police Department.

The incident happened last Wednesday (2/8) when two women, one in her early 70s and the other in her early 80s, were sitting in a car on the 200 block of Welty Avenue when a male suspect jumped into the back of their vehicle.

According to police, the suspect is a 16-year-old juvenile male who battered one of the women to get the keys away from her before fleeing in the stolen vehicle.

Police say the suspect then parked the stolen vehicle in the 1100 block of N. 2nd Street and approached a 57-year-old man who was sitting in his vehicle and pointed a gun at him before demanding his car keys.

The juvenile suspect stole the man's vehicle once he exited and drove it to Forest Hills Road where it was spotted by law enforcement. As the juvenile attempted to flee he hit a squad car, according to the press release.

Just moments later, the vehicle crashed into a tree near Marsh and N. Alpine and the driver fled on foot.

Rockford Police then brought in a K-9 that was able to track the suspect to the 4400 block of Berkshire Close where he was hiding underneath a deck. The suspect sustained a minor wound from the K-9 and was transported to a local hospital for his injuries.

The K-9 was also able to locate a handgun that had a defaced serial number on it, according to the report.