Body Camera Footage Shows Man Flee Stop Before Being Tased

EVANSTON, IL — Police released body camera footage this week of the moments before and after the arrest of a 29-year-old Des Plaines man who faces multiple felonies after police said he swallowed drugs and fled a traffic stop before crashing into a building and trying to grab an officer's gun. However, there is no video of the moments immediately following the crash, as only one of the first six officers to respond activated their body-worn camera.

Ryan K. MacNab, 29, of the 8800 block of Northshore Drive, was arrested on the morning of April 25 and later indicted on seven felony counts, including two of attempting to disarm an officer, three of aggravated resisting arrest and two counts of obstructing justice by destroying evidence, in addition to various traffic offenses.

The incident began with a 911 call around 8:12 a.m. from an employee of a bank at Southpoint Plaza, in the 600 block of Chicago Avenue. Bank staff were worried after seeing a group of three people behaving suspiciously in a parked car, later identified as a a 2006 silver Hyundai rental cars registered to Hertz. The employees thought the trio might be preparing a robbery as they appeared to be changing clothes, laying down and trying not to be seen.

According to police reports, two of the three people in the car went into the Walgreens at 635 Chicago Ave. A 28-year-old Chicago woman who ran south from the store was later arrested and charged with possession of a hypodermic needle. A man who had been with her and MacNab was released without charge after police discovered him in the Walgreens with several items "concealed within his large coat" that appeared to belong to the store.

Two arriving officers noticed MacNab's car pull out of a parking space across from the Walgreens parking lot and pulled him over in the 600 block of Hinman Avenue. During the stop, which is captured on video (around the 2:30 mark), one officer said he noticed MacNab throw an item onto the passenger seat after asking him to put down his wallet.

When the officer asked MacNab what it was, he appears to put it into his mouth and swallow it. Police try to stop him from swallowing the suspected drugs (4:41 in the video) but he speeds away, and cops are unable to pursue him as he makes evasive maneuvers through Evanston.

The next part of the incident is not captured on tape, but according to police reports, an officer noticed the Hyundai come speeding down Main Street in his rear view mirror, crashing into a building on a the northwest corner of Main Street and Fowler Avenue.

MacNab takes off running, carrying only a pack of cigarettes in his hand, the first officer on scene said. The officer tackled McNab around 2421 Main St., where he fought with police.

"He's trying to get my gun," the first officer warned, according to the police report. A detective who arrived to help shocked MacNab with a taser but it was not effective. A sergeant "delivered approximately 2-3 knee strikes" and a single punch to the same area before MacNab could be secured. He continued to flair his feet "act aggressive" with officers, the reports said.

That's when a body camera is activated again (5:55). The first officer on scene explains he was taken by surprise when he saw the car crashed behind him and didn't remember to activate his camera until after MacNab was handcuffed. The sergeant reported he left the station in a "hurried manner" without remembering to turn on his camera but activated it when he realized it was not on.

A pair of detectives who encountered MacNab as he was being chased on foot from the crash parked an unmarked squad car on the sidewalk with its emergency lights and sirens on and assisted with the arrest. One of them fired a taser. No cameras captured these events, according to the city's response to a public records request.

As of June 6, MacNab, who has pleaded not guilty, remained at Cook County Jail in lieu of the $15,000 cash portion of his bail. His next court appearance has been set for June 26.

» Evanston Police: Man Tased Trying To Grab Cop's Gun After Fleeing Stop, Crashing